Mr. C. W. Peach on the Nidus of Purpura lapillus. 203 



capsule, clout Fopercule ne porte toujours qu'une pointe mousse 

 tres-courte, et se detaclie facilement quand le fruit est mis en 

 contact avec Fhumidite. II faut encore remarquer que la capsule 

 est toujours symmetrique, et que son col n^est jamais courbe vers 

 le bas, comme cela se voit si souvent dans le Br. intermedium ; a 

 Petat sec, meme quand elle est encore fermee par son opercule, 

 elle se trouve toujours retrecie sous 1' orifice. Le peristome est 

 plus grand, et tons les fruits murissent a la meme epoque." 



38. Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Schweegr. (Br. ventricosum, Dicks. ; 

 H. and T.) 



Abundant on the rocky banks of streams, and in moist springy 

 places on the mountains. I gathered numerous forms, varying chiefly 

 in habit and in the length of the capsule, but presenting no essential 

 difference. 



39. Br. turblnalurn, Swartz. Rocky situations near streams, but 

 with fruit scarcely mature. A small and broad-leaved var. of this 

 occurs below Winch Bridge, in which the tufts are beautifully zoned 

 with red and purple, their upper portion being green. A similar var. 

 oi Br. pseudotriquetrum grows on Cronkley Fell. 



40. Br. Zierii, Dicks. Basaltic rocks at the High Force, Holwick 

 Scarr, Caldron Snout, &c., in moist shaded situations : the capsules 

 immature at the time of my visit. The vinous tinge of the foliage 

 on the lower part of the stem distinguishes this species at sight from 

 Br. argenteum and Julaceum. 



[To be continued.] 



XXVII. — On the Nidi o/ Purpura lapillus and o/Buccinum 

 reticulatum. By Mr. Charles Wm. Peach. 



Purpura lapillus. 



In my former communication relating to this shell, I had only 

 noticed it depositing its nidi from January to June of that year ; 

 since that time I tind that it deposits them all the year round, but 

 is most active from January to April. The young leave the nidi in 

 about four months from the time of their being fixed on the rocks ; 

 they are fixed to rocks only. My eldest boy took one of the whelks 

 from the rock, when it deposited a nidus on his hand in my presence 

 which was perfectly formed, quite transparent ; and although the 

 granular marks were plainly to be seen, no appearance of shells could 

 be traced under a powerful pjocket lens on the bursting of the nidus. 

 The nidus was so frail, that it fell to pieces on being touched. 



Buccinum reticulatum. 



This shell differs from the former in fixing its nidi on rocks, 

 algae, and the wicker-work of " bullies," or the store-pots of the 



