THE NAUTILUS. 93 
home, and gathered a good many varieties of fresh-water and land 
shells which I have always kept. 
Ill-health has prevented my doing much collecting the past year, 
and my attempted exchanges have been unfortunate in almost every 
case. However, I do not consider a “collection” the most import- 
ant part of any study, though I must confess it adds pleasure to it. 
Last July I very much enjoyed the class in conchology taught by 
Mrs. Shepard, and found profit also. 
I spent one afternoon capturing what mollusks I could besiege in 
their homes in the sand and mud at the mouth of the river above 
Alamitos, stopping long enough at “ Devil’s Gate” to waylay with 
a hatchet a few of the inhabitants of the soft rock, such as Phola- 
didew penita Conr., and Platyodon eancellatus Conr. Nassa tegula 
Rvye., Cerithidea sacrata Gld. were enjoying a promenade on the 
mud, and it seemed a pity to end their happiness, unless I accept 
the belief of Agassiz, Cuvier and others in the immortality of 
animals. 
I noticed a good many small holes in the sand, some with little 
mounds around them, like those made in the earth by some of the 
insect world, and, I found, on excavating them, that some of my 
little molluscan friends were at the bottom of the contrivance for 
breathing. I brought to light Donax flecuosus Gld., Liocardium 
substriatum, Lyonsia californica Conr. and Heterodonax bimaculatus 
D’Orb. 
HENRY D. VAN NOSTRAND. 
It is with regret that we record the death of Mr. Henry D. Van 
Nostrand, which occurred at his residence in Glen Ridge, N. J., on 
the morning of the 8th of October. 
Mr. Van Nostrand was born in New York City about 73 years 
ago, and was long actively engaged there in mercantile business as 
a member of the firm of J. & H. Van Nostrand, wholesale grocers, 
which was founded near the beginning of the present century by his 
father. 
Early in life he became interested in the study of conchology, 
and began a collection of shells which will rank with some of the 
best private collections in the country. The nucleus of it was that 
of the late John A. Redfield, which he purchased from Mr. Redfield 
about 40 years ago. 
