NOTES ON SHROPSHIRE MOLLUSCA. 



By J. WILFRID JACKSON, F.G.S. 



(Read before the Society, May 12th, 1909). 



Last Easter I visited Shropshire with a party of geologists, and during 

 a stay of seven days made a few notes on the moUusca of this 

 somewhat neglected county. Our centre was at Craven Arms, and 

 excursions were made each day to the various places of geological 

 interest round about. The results are somewhat disappointing, but 

 this is due to the fact that it was, on the whole, rather too early for 

 many species of moUusca. The weather, too, was not altogether 

 suited to their requirements, the nights being very cold and at times 

 frosty. Again, one had necessarily to keep in view the main object 

 of the expedition — geology — and, therefore, I was unable to devote 

 as much time to shell-hunting as I should have liked. 



The following notes are copied verbatim from my diary. 



Quarries in Aymestry limestone, Weo Edge, near Craven Arms: — 

 Avion ater var. rufa, A. subfuscus, A. circumscriptus, Ai^riolimax 

 ngrestis var. sylvatica and var. reticulata, Vitrina pellucida, Vitrea 

 crystaliina, V. cellaria, V. nitidula var. helmi, V. pura and var. 

 nitidosa, Pyramidula rotundata, Helicigona arbustorum, Helix 

 nemoralis, Cochlicopa lubrica, Chuisilia bidentata, all occurred fairly 

 commonly under the loose stones in the quarries. 



Arion ciratmscriptiis and Vitrea nitidula were also common in a 

 quarry in the Upper Ludlow near Onibury ; Helix ftenioralis was 

 abundant on roadside banks from Onibury to Norton. On the slopes 

 of Norton Hill (Lower Ludlow) just above the river Onny I found 

 Agriolimax agrestis var. sylvatica and var, reticulata, Vitrea nitidula, 

 Arion hortensis, A. circumscriptus, Hygromia hispida, and Cochlicopa 

 lubrica. Limncea pereger occurred in a brook near Stokesay Castle 

 Hotel. 



On the Onny river near Horderley — Caradoc sandstones, shales, 

 etc.: — Liniax 7naximus, Agriolitnax agrestis, A. Icevis, Vitrina pellu- 

 cida, Vitrea crystaliina, V. nitidula, Arion ater, A. hortensis, Pyra- 

 midula rotundata, Helix nemoralis, Cochlicopa lubrica, and Clatisilia 

 bidentata, all under stones at river side. 



Arion ater (type) was also exceedingly common on the banks of 

 the Bishops Castle Railway, and Helix nemoralis and H. hortensis — 

 dead adult and living juvenile shells — were common amongst herbage 

 at the roadside. 



