Io6 JOURNAL OF CONCHOLOGY. 



and on the coarse grass bordering the esplanade. Neither 

 Helix hortensis, nor rufesceiis were observed, but I was informed 

 that both were abundant. Helix acukata, I heard was plentiful 

 at Hoyle's Mouth Wood, but I failed to find it. 



Altogether 84 Marine species, 1 7 species and 2 varieties of 

 Land, and 4 species of Freshwater MoUusca were observed. 



THE LAND SHELLS AND FRESHWATER SHELLS 



OF THE COAST OF NORTH NORTHUMBERLAND 



FROM ALN MOUTH TO THE TWEED. 



By the rev. J. McMURTRIE, M.A. 



(Read before the Conchological Society, December isth, iSS8.) 



It will be seen that the Alnmouth land shells of the genus Helix 

 are interesting. They attracted my attention during autumn 

 holidays, which I spent there some years ago. I had no thought 

 at the time of forming a complete collection ot the local shells; 

 and this accounts for various blanks, especially the absence of 

 freshwater shells of Alnmouth from the list. The neighbourhood 

 of Alnmouth, considered as a collecting ground, is wanting in 

 freshwater pools and streams, and the river Alne is tidal for 

 some distance ; but no doubt some freshwater species could 

 be got even there, and at any rate the searcher could go 

 further afield. 



The determination of the northern limit of Helix virgata 

 is of some interest. Dr. Jeffreys supposed it did not extend 

 beyond Yorkshire. Mr. Rimmer (on my authority) quoted 

 Alnmouth. The shell is common at Amble, Alnmouth, and 

 Bamborough, and the albino form with translucent lines (var. 

 alba Taylor) is also unusually plentiful at all these places. It 

 is still plentiful half-a-mile north of Bamborough, with the var. 

 albicans Grat, but I could not find it at Beal. I have not 



J.C, vi., July, 1S89. 



