SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 487 
which it would be next to impossible to discriminate between important or 
“intermediate” variations, and those which were insignificant, unstable, 
and individual in character. Such a classification, too, would serve to 
impart a considerable degree of colour to the belief in the immutability of 
species, because the significance of the important variations would be lost ° 
sight of in the observation and chronicling of trifling and commonly variable 
characters. Whilst, therefore, I do not desire for one moment to cast the 
slightest doubt upon the earnestness of spirit in which these investigations 
are pursued by many of the young observers of the present day, I deprecate 
most strongly the addition to our scientific nomenclature of varietal names 
which cannot be of use, but only disfigure and overload our classification, and 
help to clog the channels through which alone the haven of true Science can 
be reached.—F. J. Rownornam. [We entirely concur in this view.—Ep.] 
Mollusca of Middlesex.—The following important correction affords 
an illustration of the occasional inaccuracy of the published records :— 
In the August number of ‘The Zoologist’ Limnea glutinosa is recorded 
for Barnes, on the authority of Messrs. Loydell and Rowe. Mr. Rowe now 
tells me that the specimens were wrongly identified, and that the record is 
therefore erroneous.—T. D. A. CockERELL. 
The Mollusca of Kent, Surrey, and Middlesex.i—I can add the 
following species and varieties to my brother's list, found for the most part 
since its compilation :—Pisidium roseum, Fulham. Planorbis corneus var. 
albinos, West Moulsey, Surrey. Limnea auricularia var. ampla, River 
Thames at Hampton, very fine. L. peregra monst. sinistrorsum: I took 
several specimens of this rare form near Tooting towards the end of 
September, associated with the type and Planorbis nautileus. Cardium 
Jasciatum, Margate. Lepton Clarkia, in shell-sand from Margate with 
Cyamium minutum, Crenella rhombea (single valves), Rissoa inconspicua, 
Ri. semistriata var. pura, Odostomia conoidea, O. spiralis, O. dolioliformis, 
O. interstincta, O. rissoides, O. indistincta, Caecum glabrum, and others 
already recorded for this district—Sypney C. CockerE.t (Bedford Park). 
SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 
Linnean Socigty or Lonpon. 
November 5, 1885.—Sir Joun Lussocs, Bart., F.R.S., M.P., President, 
in the chair. 
Mr. Alfred E. Heath exhibited a Golden Eagle in the plumage charac- 
teristic of the second year. 
The first part of an exhaustive monograph ‘ On Recent Brachiopoda,” 
accompanied by illustrations, by the late Dr. Thomas Davidson, was read by 
