the International Fisheries Exhibition, 117 
that great numbers of B. undatum and Fusus antiquus are 
collected in the Cattegat for fish-bait, by putting a dead cod 
into a wicker basket and letting it down on a muddy bottom ; 
it is soon taken up half filled with whelks. 'The same method 
is adopted for their capture on the English and Irish coasts. 
This is a good illustration of the lex talionis. The Romans 
must have prized the whelk as a foreign luxury during their 
occupation of this country. Shells of B. wndatum, mixed with 
those of the oyster, were found among the ruins of the Roman 
station at Richborough. Whelks of two kinds (“ white” 
and “ almond ’”’) are in great request and sold by millions in 
the lower fishmarket at Billingsgate. 
The Exhibition presents some absurd incongruities. Al- 
lowing every latitude to the interpretation of the word “ fish- 
eries,”’ it appears rather strange to include among their products 
a large assortment of copper-ore and other minerals from 
Newfoundland, and cases of Lepidoptera from the Entomolo- 
gical Society of Canada ; nor can we quite see the connection 
between fishes and Ale or seaweeds, which are so profusely 
exposed to view in the courts of the United States of America, 
Italy, Norway, Russia, and other foreign countries. 
However, instead of indulging in useless criticism, I will 
proceed to make some remarks on the Mollusca in the Exhi- 
bition, considered in a natural-history point of view; and | 
will take the courts according to their order in the catalogue. 
In doing this I shall be glad to express my obligation to the 
Colonial and Foreign Commissioners for their extremely 
courteous attention and for allowing me to examine all the 
Mollusca in their departments. 
GREAT BRITAIN. 
Nothing worthy of notice. 
BAHAMAS. 
A collection of small and common shells without names. 
BriTisH COLUMBIA. 
A magnificent specimen (in spirit) of Cryptochiton Stelleri, 
Middendorff. The only other habitats previously known for 
this singular mollusk were the Siberian coast and Sitka. 
CANADA. 
This is not in the official Catalogue, except to give the 
names of the Commissioners. ‘The court contains a well- 
