AND OF THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 



with other insects. M. Dumeril ^ave notice of his intention of conceiting with his 

 colleagues, MM. St Hilaire and Dumas, on the means of preventing the return of 

 this scourge. 



THE MULBERRY TREE. — MORUS NIGRA. 

 This tree, which is a native of Italy, but is cultivated in many paits of Europe, be- 

 lonff= to the class Moncecia and the order Tetrandria of the Linna?an system, and to 

 the natural family of Artocarpeic, the Bread-fruit tribe, li does not attain a consi- 

 derable height, but sends off numerous crooked branches, and is covered with rough 

 brown bark. The leaves are numerous, cordate, acute, serrate, veined, rough, bright 

 green, and placed on short stalks. The male flowers are disposed in close roundish 

 catkins, each floret with four oval, concave leaflets, and four stamens. The calyx of 

 the female flower is divided into four obtuse persistent segments ; the germen is 

 roundish ; and there are two rough styles, with simple stigmas. The fruit is a large 

 succulent berry, composed of a number of rnundish bodies, each containing an oval 

 seed, and afExed to a common receptacle. 



The fruit, having an agreeable subacid taste, is esteemed as an article of food, and 

 i? used medicinally for allaying thirst. The bark has an acrid bitter taste, anvl has 

 been successfully used as an anthelmintic, particularly in cases of tapeworm. But the 

 principal use to which this tree is applied is the very important one of reaiing Silk- 

 worms, which feed on its leaves. In Europe, however, the leaves of the white mul- 

 berry. Morns alba, and in China, those of Monts tartarirtiy are preferred. The fruit 

 of the black mulberry is often made into a syrup or rob, in the same manner as cur- 

 rants ; a kind of wine is also made from it, and iis juice is sometimes employed to give 

 a deeper colour to red wine. The wood is yellow, T)rettY hard, and well adapted for 

 turning. 





\ . '-' 



^- 







X-^^ 



^ 



The white mulberry is a native of Asia, and 13 cultivated extensively in various parts 

 of Europe, for the purpose of rearing Silkworms. It answers in almost every variety 

 of soil, but thrives best in light mould. U is raised from root-shoots, cuttings, or seed, 

 or by grafts, and may be stripped of its leaves two or even three times every summer. 

 Sheep are fond of the leaves, and fatten on them, and in Spain especially are thus fed 

 during part of the winter. Birds also prefer the fruit of the white mulberry to most 

 others, and it is said that Thrushes and Blackbirds fed on it are considered a great 

 delicacy ; but it is much inferior to that of the black mulberry, being nearly insipid, 

 and therefore is not, like it, used as food by Man. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Catalogue of Land and Fresh-water Shells found in the vicinity of Plr/mont'i, unth 



Remarks on their Habitats^ §-c. By J. C. Bellamy, Esq., Yealmton. 



The arrangement and nomenclature of Turton's Manual are adopted. 



BIVALVE SHELLS. 



1. Cyclas pusilla.- — In stagnant pools, running water, and spots flooded by rivers. 

 We have a shell here, found in the same situations, of a rust colour, but differing so 

 little in shape as to be entitled to consideration only as a variety of C. Pusilla, 



2. Unio MARGARiTiFERus. — In rapid rivers. Dead and occasionally living speci- 

 mens are found in the sand-pits dug in the banks. These specimens are always nu- 

 merous according to the quantity of rain which falls in the autumn and winter; the 

 violence of the stream, being thereby increased, drives the shells into these catch-pils. 

 A person assured me that Crows watch on the banks of rivers for these shell*fish, and 

 Ily with them into the air, then drop them on some rock, in order to break the shell, 

 and descend to devour the contents. Crows are reported to destroy, and feed on the 

 Swan -mussel in the same manner. 



3. LiMACELLUs PARVUS. — Found in Limnx maximus. 



4. L. oBLiQuus. — In the common Field-slug. Possibly L. nnguicidus and L. 

 variegatus are to be found here, but they have not come under my notice. 



5. Testacellus HALioTiDEUs. — I have one specimen of this shell, and it seems 

 a« yet to have been found only here and at Bideford. 



6. ViTRiNA PELLuciDA. — Among damp moss. Dead shells are very frequent 

 under stones. I think I have found V. ehntfata, or at least elongated specimens of 



^. pelhicida. 



7. Helix aspersa. — Common in hedges and fields. 



8. H. HORTENsis — In hedges and gardens. Not common. 



y. H. NEMORALis. — Common in hedges and gardens. In winter I find this and 

 the two foregoing species either lying loose in warm hedges, with their apertures 



sealed up, or cemented firmly to stones or old trees. A few remain quiescent, with- 

 out any epiphragm, and stir out for food when the weather is tolerably mild. These 

 species also will, en receiving an injury to the mouth, secrete a thin lid of the same 

 description, and continue quiescent in this state until the fracture h-as been repaired. 



10. H, RUFESCENs — Commou in heaps of stones and among rubbish, and gene- 

 rally where there is much moisture and shade. Its colour varies. 



11. H. sericea. — Common in damp and shaded situations, especially where dead 

 leaves abound. 



12. H. viRGATA. — Very common in dry situations. In some places, particu- 

 larly elevated fields, they are so numerous as to be a pest to the at^riculturist. This 

 shell and Buli-nvs fasciatus are liable from exposure to become denuded of the outer 

 layer, and bleached. 



13. n. CAPERATA Common in dry situations. In old limestone quarries, lar^re 



and beautiful specimens are f- und crawling on the rock facmg southwardly. 



14. H. SPIN u LOS A. — In woods among leaves, and in heaps of stones. Thev seem 

 to retire in winter into mould formed by decayed moss on rocks, or into other sheltered 

 situations. Kot common. 



Jo. H. FUSCA. — In woods among moss Bare. 



16. H- nitens. — Very common among wet moss and under stones. Large speci- 

 mens are usually found dead. The finest 1 ever collected, and which were fully three- 

 fourths of an inch in breadth, were lying on rock sloping down to the sea. 



17. H. ALiARiA. — In the same situations as the Inst. I have as yet found it only 

 in my own garden. Full-grown shells would certainly be with diflftculty distinguished 

 from H. nitens, were it not for their odour ; but the fry have a remarkably glossv 

 aspect, and a considerable depth at the aperture, while ;he young of//, nittns retain 

 the characteristic bend and narrowness of mouth observable in older shells. Some of 

 this species seem not to emit the scent until immersed in hot water, 



18. H. HispiDA.. — Not common. In old walls and under stones. Soma occur 

 without hairs. 



19. H. CRYSTAi.LiN'A. — Common in wet hedges among moss. 



20. H. RADIATA. — Common under stones, wood, &c., generally seleetin"^ damp 

 places. I have found the white variety 



21. H. RUPESTRis. — Common in dry walls and old buildings I have noticed 

 them on the walls of churches. In summer, \\hen a shower falls, they will come out 

 in numbers from their recesses, and appear greatly refreshed and enlivened. 



22. H. FULVA. — This rare species is found with us among leaves, and under 

 stones, especially where there is a little moisture. Specimens vary in shape. 



23. H. PULCHELLA. — Barp. The smooth variety only has come under my notice. 

 I have found it under stones. Mr T. CoUey found a colony of the rough sort in a 

 very dry wall at Trematon Castle in Cornwall. According to Dr Turton's experi- 

 ence, this last variety is found only in damp places. 



24. Clausilia rigosa. — Abundant in old walls. 



25. BuLiMUs OBSCURUS. — Rather rare. Chiefly found in old dry hed'^es. I 

 lately ascertained that many of this kind retire in winter to the crevices of rocks 

 and in spring come forth besmeared with dirt derived from their habitations. 



26. B. LUBRicus. — Found pretty commonly under stones, and in wet hedges 

 among moss. 



27. B. FASCiATUs. — In fields bordering on the sea. 



23. BAL.i:A FRACiLis. — Not common. In moss attached to the trunks of trees, 

 in old walLs and on rocks. I have occasionally found it in the cylindrical holes bored 

 by insects in rotten stumps of trees. 



29. SucciNEA OHLONCA. — In pools and streams attached to stones and aquatic 

 plants. In corroboration of Dr Turton's view of the difference of the species from 

 S. amphibia, I may mention that it is found here without any admixture of the last 

 named species. 



30. Carychium minimum. — Common among wet mosses, leaves, and stones. 

 I have found great numbers of dead shells in summer among the moss, attached to 

 rocks on hills. The heat of summer destro} ing the moss, the shells are in their turn 

 sacrificed. 



31. Pupa umbilicata. — Found with Clavsilia rvgosa, and equally common. It 

 gets also amongst rubbish in wet situations. 



32. P. 3IARGINATA. — Chiefly in spots near the sea, under stones. Not common. 



33. P. EDENTULA. — Two specimens of this shell have occurred to me in a heap of 

 stones. These belong to the '* more elongated and cylindrical " variety. 



34. Vertigo ptgm^a. — Found by Mr T. Colley under stones in a damp situation, 

 at Broisand. 



35. V. SEXDENTATA. — Found by Mr Colley with the last, and also by him in a 

 similar situation, a very short distance from Plymouth. 



UNIVALVE SHELLS. 



36. Planoreis VORTEX. — Common in pools and streams. 



37. P. ALBUs. — Common in pools, attached to plants and stones. 



38. P. iMERiCATUS. — Rather local. In a standing pool near my residence I fi..d 

 them in plenty attached to plants. 



39. P. sFiRORBis. — Found by Mr Colley in pools. Rare. 



40. LiMN-^ius PEREGER. — Very common in pools, streams, and rivers. 



41. L. F(.sSARius. — Rather common in streams and pools. 



42. pHYSA FONTiNALis. — Not comffion in ponds, streams, and ri\ers, attached to 

 stones, sticks, and other objects. 



43. Paludina stagnorum. — Very rare in pools and streams. I have never 

 procured more than two specimens. 



44. Ancylus FLUViATiLis — Common on stones and plants, in pools, streams: 

 and rivers. 



A dealer in shells living here sold me specimens of Physa rivalis, and some of 

 Clausilia bidens, saying he had collected them in this neighbourhood. They have 

 never been found by me or any other collector with whom I am acquainted, and I 

 therefore feel great doubts on the subject. Mr Colley has a series of shells, seem- 

 ingly Helix ludda, collecled in this neighbourhood, but I am not as yet sure of their 

 proper appellation. 



