7364 Molluslcs. 



A Sea Serpent. — As Samuel Townsend, Esq., J. P., of Whitehall, was sailing in 

 Whitehall Harbour, he saw, following his wake, what appeared to him (from the many 

 descriptions he had read of the monster) to be a sea serpent about twenty-five or thirty 

 feet in length ; and being in a small boat he endeavoured to keep as respectful a dis- 

 tance as possible. There was, hoaever, another boat in the harhuur at the lime, in 

 which was Mr. Samuel Kingston, his brother, Mr. John Hingstoii (uf Trinity College, 

 Dublin), and a party of ladies. These parties also saw the huge monster; and upon 

 raising its neck about six feet above the surface the females became greatly alarmed, 

 when Mr. John Hingston, who is a remarkably good shot, fired at it, upon which it 

 immediately disappeared. Mr. Townsend informed us the serpent presented a 

 beautiful appearance, having large, brilliant scales of a yellow hue, and is of opinion 

 it was struck by the shot fired by Mr. Hingston. It was likewise distinctly seen from 

 the windows of Whitehall House. Mr. Robert Atkins told us he saw il the day before 

 ofi" Barlogue. — ' Skihhtrecn Eagle,' as quoted in the ' Cork Constitution of Sept., 1860. 



On the Discovery of Physa acuta, Drap., in England ; with Remarks 

 on a Shell that may prove another addition to the British 

 PhyscB. By the Rev. Alfred Merle Nokman, M.A. 



A DESCRIPTION, with observations and figures, of the Physa dis- 

 covered by Mr. Chonles, has already been sent to the ' Annals,' and 

 will probably appear in the February number of that periodical. As, 

 however, many conchological readers of the ' Zoologist' may not 

 have an opportunity of seeing the former journal, the following diag- 

 nostic characters of this species and P. fontinalis are forwarded for 

 insertion. 



Physa acuta, Drapamaud. 



Physa acuta, Drapamaud, Dupuy, Michaiid, D'Orhiyny, Des- 

 hayes, Moqnin-Tandon, &c. 

 ? Bulla rivalis. Mat on Sf Racket t, Montagu, &c. 



Animal. — Mantle-margin not reflected on the shell, but sending 

 forth minute digitations, viz., four behind, consisting of three, often 

 rudimentary, lying on the spire ; the fourth longer, reflected in the 

 angle formed by the junction of the outer lip with the body ; and six 

 in front, small, spread in the form of a fan on the columella, and too 

 short to be seen from above. Foot shorter than the spire when the 

 animal is crawling. Tentacles slightly thickened towards the end, 

 and having a black central line. 



Shell long-ovate, with an acute apex, thin, but stronger than that 

 of P. fontinalis, transparent, horn-coloured. Whorls four and a half or 



