1700 The Zoologist — June, 1869. 



Greater Spotted Woodpecker. — Four were killed near Woodbridge 

 early in the month, and two common crossbills. 



Parrot Crossbill. — I am informed that a male of this species was 

 shot at Melton lately, but I have not yet seen it. 



Goshawk. — One was shot near Bultey on the 24th of last month, 

 and another at Rendlesham early in the present month : a third was 

 procured near Trimley a short time since, but I do not know the 

 precise date. 



Lougtailed Duck. — Two immature females were shot on the 

 Woodbridge river at the beginning of the month. 



Alicxander Clakk-Kennedy, 

 Liltle Glembain, Wickham Market, 

 January, 1869. 



About Shells. By Charles Wright.* 



In the course of my herborizations in Cuba, I have had frequent 

 occasion to climb trees for flowers which I could not otherwise 

 obtain, and much more frequent occasion to clamber about the lime- 

 stone cliffs which furnish a great variety of plants, many of which are 

 common in such localities", and are found nowhere else. In these cir- 

 cumstances, it was hardly possible that my attention should not be 

 drawn to the shells, some inhabiting trees, and many more the rocks. 

 1 came, in truth, to be very fond of them, spending many hours en- 

 tirely devoted to shell hunting, which, 1 begin to think, I could have 

 spent more profitably in my legitimate calling. I propose to relate 

 some of my observations, and to give my views as to the causes of 

 some of the phenomena observed, hoping that they who make this 

 branch of the animal kingdom a special study, may be prompted to 

 investigate these phenomena more minutely than I had time or ability 

 to do. 



Shells have a season of hybernation in hot climates as well as in 

 cold; but, in the former, the cause of their inactivity is dryness; in 

 the latter, low temperature. If the drought be protracted, the greater 

 part seek a retreat where some degree of moisture prevails ; for ex- 

 ample, in the ground or among the dead leaves covering it; in a 

 hollow tree or in the crevices of the bark ; under stones or among the 

 leaves of epiphitic Tillandsias. But occasionally an individual is 



* From ihe 'American Naturalist,' February, 1869. 



