SCHARFF: SHELLS FROM THE ALLUVIUM. 323 



to be obtained by examining the various materials left on the banks 

 of a river after the subsidence of an inundation are both interesting 

 and useful to the students of land and freshwater molluscs. 



The best season for collecting the shells is a short time 

 after the subsidence of the winter floods. — According to Dr. 

 Kobelt, however, summer or autumn inundations bring more 

 freshwater and fewer land shells down than winter floods, but I 

 may state that I have not had an opportunity of confirming this 

 statement from my own observation. 



As regards the collecting part of the w^ork, my usual practice 

 is to walk down to the riverside provided with a few bags, as well 

 as some small tin boxes, glass tubes, &c., and then to carefully 

 examine the upper layers of the alluvium, generally consisting of 

 small black seeds, bits of straw and wood, and in fact a little of 

 everything that is light enough to float on the surface of water, 

 besides a good many shells, Helix liispida being the most con- 

 spicuous. 



This is not only good ground for the conchologist, but there 

 is also much scope for the coleopterist, and I have several times 

 been fortunate enough to collect some pretty rare beetles still 

 alive among the shells. 



After having searched for a spot v/here a thick layer has been 

 accumulated, I fill my bags and take them home where I leave 

 them near the fireside for a day or two, until their contents are 

 perfectly dry, otherwise the smaller shells will stick to the j^ieces 

 of wood and may then be easily overlooked. 



Next, I spread the contents on a sheet of white paper and 

 then proceed to carefully collect the specimens by means of a 

 small brush. 



This done, you will see that species, having the habit of Uving 

 near the water like Helix hispida, H arbiistoriun, Cochlicopa 

 lubrica, Cionella aciciila, Carychiuni viirtiiinim and some of the 



