FIFTH FIELD MEETING. 19 
also the fine specimen of what is called the “Northern Drift,” at the 
the mouth of the Tyne. At this latter locality, Mr. Carr, the pre- 
sident, pointed out several remarkable examples of blocks of va- 
rious kinds of stone (Basalt, Mountain Limestone, Millstone 
Grit, Coal Sandstone, &c.)—which exhibited strong marks of 
glacial action. In the morning three communications were read 
from Mr. Loftus, viz. :—an account of the occurrence of the glow- 
worm, near Gibside ; a list of new localities of several rare Bri- 
tish shells ; and a letter to the President, recommending that the 
members of the club should communicate at the meetings any 
information with respect to Natural History, which they may 
have obtained in their researches, in the intervals between those 
said meetings. Mr. Albany Hancock read a very interesting pa- 
per on the varieties of Buccinuwm undatum. This shell, one of 
the larger Whelks which inhabit our coast, is found at various 
depths and under various circumstances. Some occurring in 40 
fathoms water, some in water of only half that depth, whilst 
other examples are found within the tide-marks. Mr. Hancock 
stated, that as the circumstances in which the shell is found, 
vary, so the character of the shell is altered. The comparatively 
deep water variety is thin and delicate, occasionally exceedingly 
so, because it lives at the bottom of water, which, at the depth 
mentioned, is nearly, if not entirely, still. The bottom of the 
water, on which it lives, is also muddy. Coming nearer in shore, 
or into shallower water, we find another form of this shell, thicker 
and stronger than the last. We have not time to describe all 
the varieties, we may, however, state that the extreme forms are 
so opposite that they have been described as distinct species. 
But a careful examination of the habits and habitats, shews 
that the variety of form, under which they appear, is only what 
might be expected from the variety of circumstances in which 
they exist. 
Mr. Hancock has in preparation a full account of the dif- 
ferent varieties of this interesting Mollusk, so that the members 
of this Club, as well as other parties interested in the subject, 
will shortly have before them an accurate and skilful account of 
this Protean shell. 
