62 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Crested Newt, Triton cristatus, the Smooth Newt, Triton teniatus (both of 
ordinary occurrence), and the rarer Palmated Newt, Triton palmatus.— 
‘Nature, 28th Nov. 1878. 
Larer Pincnarp.—On December 28th I measured the largest Pilchard 
I ever saw. It was in a salted condition, and it may therefore when fresh 
have been a little longer and not quite so deep as I found it. It measured 
eleven inches and six-eighths over all in length, and two inches and three- 
eighths in depth. These measurements will be found to be those of a large 
Herring. I did not, of course, weigh the specimen. It was one of a mixed 
lot of English and Irish fish, so that I cannot determine the place of its 
occurrence.—THomas CornisH (Penzance). 
Virau Tenacity or Succinea purris.—I forward a few specimens of a 
small form of the Amber Snail, Succinea putris. The chief interest lies in a 
peculiar habit which I have observed in the species. During the warmer 
months the usual habitat of this little mollusk is a sluggish watercourse, which 
conveys water from the reclaimed meadows above. At the outlet there is a 
flood-gate to prevent the ingress of sea-water. The colony of Succinea resides 
at the water's edge, a few yards below the flood-gate. The only molluscous 
companion is a finely striated small var. of Ancylus fluviatilis. During the 
neap-tides, both species live undisturbed in fresh water; but in the spring- 
tides they are subjected for a few hours, night and day, to a brisk influx of 
salt-water. Ancylus is a permanent resident,—attached to submerged 
stones; but Succinea is migratory. I revisited the locality on the 4th of 
November. Not a single specimen of Succinea was to be found at the 
water-side. Within a few yards of the ditch runs a mortar-built wall of 
limestone, about five feet high, and coped with stones set edgewise, at 
short intervals. On searching the wall for small species of land-shells 
I was surprised to find the colony of Succinea, alive and active, in small 
groups at the bases of the copings; some were concealed beneath moss, 
others under pieces of mortar. The locality was again visited on the 
29th November, but there was not a Succinea on the wall; and its 
hybernaculum is a mystery. The specimens now sent were taken from 
the wall on the 4th of November, and subjected to a rigid experiment. 
They were enclosed without water, in the dry glass tube, wherein they 
were kept on a warm mantelpiece till this morning (December 9th). They 
were then transferred to a jar of fresh water. In half-an-hour the liberated 
prisoners were crawling up the sides ot the jar, some attempting to 
escape.—T Hos. Gove (Armbarrow, Milnthorpe). 
