WOODCOCK : COLOUR VARIETIKS OF IJONAX VAKIEGATUS. 245 



are in any case decidedly scarce, their proportion being some four 

 specimens to a hundred of the type. 



Since this was written, Mr. Tomhn has told me that he has two 

 or three specimens from Herm. 



There is a variation which I claim to be a new variety, and have 

 ventured to name it var. aicrea nov., as the umbones are of a distinct 

 orange-yellow tint, the interior of the shell being in most cases of a 

 slightly lighter orange tint, shading off to a light yellow, in a some- 

 what similar manner to the interior of Tapes aureus. This variety 

 is to be found in company with typical variegatus and var. tristis. 

 They seem to occur in the proportion of one var. aurea to four of 

 the type, and are sometimes more plentiful in certain gravels. 



Localities: — Royal, St. Aubin's, and St. Ouen's Bays, Jersey; 

 Cobo and Rocquaine Bays, Guernsey. 



Typical specimens of Donax variegatus (Gmelin) show perfectly 

 plain creamy-white umbones, which are most distinct when seen in 

 contrast with the other varieties. 



Localities : — To be taken in nearly all the lower shell gravels in 

 the Channel Islands, more plentifully during the warmer months of 

 the year. 



I have been led to draw the attention of collectors to these beauti- 

 ful colour variations of Donax variegatus as they seem to me to be 

 genuine and constant varieties, and are not occasional freaks of 

 colouring as seen in some shells. I have also had the advantage of 

 examining some thousands of these specimens under natural condi- 

 tions during years spent in collecting in these islands, and have come 

 to the conclusion that they are fully as worthy of addition to the 

 British list as, say, var. rO'Seolahiata of Helix neinoralis or Limncea 

 palustris ; var. aendea of Patella vulgata ; var. cinerea of Mactra 

 stultoruui, and many others I could name which occur in the Society's 

 Ivists. 



