58 Qua/rterly Journal of Concliology . 



inhabiting this country (which, if fortune favours this journal, we 

 hope its able editors will some day make) it will be for them to 

 eliminate or add to, as they think best. 



Many species once flourishing within the above limits are fast 

 dying out, succumbing to the murky atmosphere and altered ground 

 of the " Black Country," and will have to be looked for " farther 

 afield," Among these may be mentioned Helix ericetorum * and H. 

 caperata, once abounding at Dudley and in the neighbourhood, as. 

 evidenced by their dead shells. Helix aspersa, H. nemoralis, H. 

 arbustorum, Clausilia lamiaata, and Bulimus ohscurus, once common 

 in the same locality, show signs of a rapidly approaching end. 



Singular to relate, this section of the district, while made so de- 

 structive to land mollusks, has become eminently suitable for aquatic 

 species. Where, in days gone by, little water existed now literally 

 swarms with ponds and dykes, formed by the water pumped from 

 " pits," in which flourish the I/imnceidce, Vnionidce, and Sphceridce, 

 in many cases enjoying an immunity from frost,+ and so having a 

 better chance of existence than others in less favoured localities. 



Dr. J. Gwyn Jeflreys, whose extensive knowledge enables him to 

 speak with authority upon the subject, says: — "In local lists of 

 Mollusca, and even in more elaborate works on this subject, it has 

 been the custom to state that the habitat of certain species is restricted 

 to * calcareous soils,' ' oolitic formations,' ' limestone,' ' chalk,' ' trap,' 

 and other strata. I believe, however, that mineralogical conditions 

 have very little to do with the habitat of any of the MolKisca, nor 

 with their comparative abundance or scarcity in any locality, except 

 so far as food, moistui'e, or shelter, as well as the secretion of their 

 shells is concerned." 



Although quite agreemg with these remarks, we may be allowed 

 to add that a collector will have a greater chance of finding such 

 species as Helix lajncida, H, ericetorum, H. virgata, Cyclostoma eleyans, 

 and others in a limestone district than in a locality where it does not 

 exist (excej^t near the sea, where Mollusks appear to exist upon any 

 kind of soil), although of course it does not necessarily follow that he 

 will not find them in other formations ; indeed, examples are by no 

 means uncommon in our district proving such to be the case. 



The district round Birmingham lies chiefly upon the sandstones, 

 with large tracts of limestone and Lias, and is alike favoui-able to the 

 existence of land and fluviatile species. 



Mr. Garner J includes in his list of the Mollusca Helix lapi- 

 cida, H. lamellata, Zonites excavatus, Succinea oblo7i(/a, Claiisilia 

 biplicata, CI. rugosa var dubia, Limncea glutinosa, and Valvita 

 cristata. Although the existence of some of these is doubtful, I feel 



* Helix ericetorum is mentioned as being common by Mr. Garner In 1844, and not so 

 rare as H. virgata iu the county of Stafford. IT. virgata is common on the limestone forma- 

 tions of Warwicksliire, wliile H. ericetorum lias occurred but rarely. 



t Gold Fish used to breed iu the " Black Country," in pools where the water is kept 

 from freezing by warm water from tlie engines constantly running iu. I believe they breed 

 now iu the North of England under similar circumstances. 



% Nat. Ilist. of the County of Stafford, by Robert Cramer, F.L.S , London, 1814. 



