i8S 

 A FEW NOTES ON IMPORTED MOLLUSCA. 



Bv W. A. GREEN. 



Communicated by R. WELCH. 



(Read before the Society, February 12, 1902). 



The introduction of moUusca from various places on imported goods 

 is a branch of conchological investigation that well repays the student 

 for the time devoted to it. By this means we come across shells that 

 would otherwise be unknown to us, and we are also able to form an 

 idea of at least a possible means by which new species turn up from 

 time to time in various parts of the country. 



In the midst of my daily labours I occasionally find time to glance 

 at a case of Californian apples being opened, or the unpacking of a 

 bunch of bananas for the sake of beetles, spiders, etc., that are con- 

 stantly found lodged among them. 



The latter, however, are usually the most productive, when the 

 living shells contained in the refuse, left over from the processes of 

 cleaning foreign fruit, have been conveyed by farmers and gardeners 

 who purchase it for manure. 



Helix pisana has reached me by this means. One specimen 

 almost full grown and several smaller ones, but in all cases alive. 



Adams, I find, only records it for Cornwall in England, the southern 

 counties of Wales, and in Ireland, the east coast extending from about 

 Drogheda to Rush, so that in Belfast we may look upon it as an 

 occasional visitor. 



Helix guamartemes Grass., as Dr. Scharff has kindly named it 

 for me, is in his opinion limited to the El Monte district on the island 

 of Gran Canaria. 



Helix carthusiana appears to have been introduced into Belfast 

 with currants from Greece. I understand that after the currants are 

 pulled they are spread out to dry- in the sun, presumably on the bare 

 ground. When this has been accomplished they are shovelled into 

 boxes with sand, small pebbles, shells and other foreign substances. 

 In this manner they are shipped for the English market, and it is 

 almost needless to say, therefore, that currants have to undergo 

 extensive cleanmg operations before being sold. 



Helix pyramidalis is the name given by Dr. Scharff to a shell 

 which I had in my collection labelled H. virgata. He tells me that 

 it is frequent along the coast of the Mediterranean and occurs with 

 the shell before mentioned. These examples were imported in dried 

 sultana raisins from Turkey in Asia. 



Shells are much more frequent in the sultanas than in currants, 

 although the former arrive perfectly clean and require no washing. 



