JOURNAL Of COiSTCHOLOGY. 331 



the type specimens have hitherto been found. I have recently 

 received from Prof. W. N. Androus, of Elk Rapids, specimens 

 of this species from the Elk River, Antrim County. These 

 specimens are quite typical and there can be no doubt of the 

 identification. This discovery is interesting, as tending to 

 establish the validity of the species by giving it a range across 

 the whole northern portion of the state, and at the same time 

 showing that it retains through that range its peculiar character- 

 istics. 



Helix pisana var. minor Bourg. — Some little time ago 

 Mr. C. Jeffrey, of Tenb}', kindly sent me a number of small 

 specimens (collected in that neighbourhood) of this species, the 

 bulk of which answered exactly to Bourguignat's description, 

 which fixes the larger diameter as 15 mill. One of the speci- 

 mens is exceptionally minute and in its greatest width only 

 reaches 10 mill. — Jno. W. Taylor, May 20th, 1888. 



Respiration of Ancylus fluviatilis. — According to the 

 text-books there appears to be a difficulty in accounting for the 

 manner in which this species obtains its supply of air, and not 

 having seen an explanation, I wish to offer the following 

 suggestion for the consideration of the readers of this journal. 

 As the minute vegetation on which this mollusk feeds is during 

 the hours of day, constantly giving off small bubbles of nearly 

 pure oxygen, these may easily be received into the air-chamber 

 and retamed for the purpose of respiration, this gas being five 

 times as effective as compared with atmospheric air, a very small 

 portion only would be needed for the animal's use. — W. A. Gain, 

 M.C.S., May i8th, 1888. 



Unio pictorum var. latior Jeffr. in Lancashire.— 



Mr. R. Standen has recently given me a specimen of Unio 

 pictorum found in the canal at Burnley by Dr. Long which is 

 referable to this variety. — Jno. W. Taylor, May loth, 1888. 



