252 fierke: notes on limn^a. glutinosa. 



Stoneferry alongside Green Lane until it reaches the high road 

 to Beverley, where it winds round and skirts the road to Haworth 

 Hall. Through the whole of the district just described the 

 drain cuts into the boulder clay of Holderness. During the 

 winter months I have visited the drain frequently, and sometimes 

 when the weather was bright and calm (and this has usually 

 been before noon) the shell could be identified in the mud 

 quite distinctly ; at other times, especially on a dull windy day 

 (and this has usually occurred in the afternoon as on Saturday 

 last) not one would be seen, but on thrusting our scoop further 

 out and amongst the weeds numbers would be secured. I have 

 always been able to take the greatest haul when the shells could 

 be distinguished in the mud and we were bound to collect them 

 one by one, as I discovered that to work the scoop or net 

 indiscriminately generally ended in getting none at all. 

 One of the most common weeds in the drain is Callitriche, and 

 on this we have usually found them. 



Although the mollusc in its natural habitat is so often 

 found crawling on the mud, on being removed into a glass jar 

 with a deposit of mud laid over the bottom, I have found it 

 either feeding on the plants or attached to the side of the jar 

 in an apparently settled position, and in the latter instance, often 

 with its triangular-shaped tentacles fully expanded. Unlike 

 other Limnaese it is of a rather sluggish disposition and loves to 

 remain stationary. Sometimes they are found floating on the 

 top of the water with the foot fully spread out just under the 

 surface and the shell hanging down. 



They do not appear very particular as to what plants they 

 feed on. I have now one jar containing a quantity of the ivy- 

 leaved duckweed {Lenina trisiilca) on which the molluscs therein 

 confined appear quite at home, clinging to it most tenaciously, 

 and from the operations going on it is evident they most 

 thoroughly enjoy their repast. When the animal is fully 

 expanded it closely resembles its surroundings, and the delicate 



J.C., vi., July, 1S90. 



