5 = 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



The plan we have generally adopted with this as 

 with some other species, is to remove the stem and 

 cut the pileus into two or four portions, according 

 to size. Place these in the frying-pan, gills 

 upward, pepper and salt to taste, and fry gently 

 with butter or fat bacon. Or they may be placed 

 in an earthen jar with butter and condiments, the 

 top covered with a small saucer or with paper, and 



allowed to simmer in the oven. Dr. Badham's 

 recipe is " Mince or fricassee it with any sort of 

 meat, or in a vol-au-vent, the flavour of which it 

 greatly improves; or, simply prepared with salt, 

 pepper, and a small piece of bacon, lard or butter, 

 to prevent burning, it constitutes of itself a most 

 excellent dish." 



The Mays, Epsom ; April 4H1. 1894. 



THE MOLLUSCA OF THE LAKE DISTRICT. 

 By Capt. W. J. Farrer. 



XT OT having met with any published list of the 

 land and fresh-water mollusca inhabiting 

 the Lake District, I think the following notes on 

 the species collected in the neighbourhood of 

 Keswick and Bassenthwaite may be of use to those 

 readers of Scienxe-Gossip who intend "to do ' ' 

 the Lakes this season, and are conchologically 

 inclined. The arrangement followed is that of the 

 Conchological Society's new list, and all the species 

 mentioned were collected by myself during this and 

 last year. 



1. Arion ater, L. — Very common; but I have met 

 with nothing but the black form. 



2. A. subfuscus, Drap. — Abounds in the low-lying 

 meadows near the lakes ; I have seen as many as 

 187 individuals feeding on the body of a dead frog, 

 whilst the entrances to the water-rats' burrows are, 

 after a rain, perfectly orange with them. 



3. A. hortensis, Fer. — Common in woods and 

 under stones by the roadside, varying much in 

 colour. 



4. A. circumscriptus, Johnst. — With the above, but 

 seems to prefer the woods. 



5. Amalia gagates, Drap. — No: common: in Sir 

 Wilfred Lawson's woods at Bassenthwaite. 



6. A. sovxrbyi, Fer. — Not uncommon in woods 

 about Keswick, Braithwaite and Piel Wyke ; one 

 specimen of var. nigrescens, Rbk., found at Bassen- 

 thwaite in a garden. 



7. Umax maximus, L. — Not common ; on hedge- 

 banks, and mostly of the var. maculata. Pic. 



8. L.flavus, L. — A few only about a ruined mill 

 at Bassenthwaite. No doubt it exists at Keswick, 

 but I have had no opportunity of searching for it 

 there. 



9. L. marginatus. Mull. — Very common, and 

 varying much in colour, some specimens being 

 nearly white with ashy markings. 



10. Agriolimax agrestis, L. — Needless to say this 

 species is everywhere, and as various in colour as 

 it is numerous in individuals. 



11. Ag. Items, Mull. — Common amongst moss on 

 the borders of the lakes and small " becks.'' 



12. Vitrina peliiuida. Mull. — Very common 

 amongst dead leaves in woods and ditches. In 

 November and December of last year very large 

 specimens could be taken in plenty ; now, although 

 dead shells are numerous enough, not a living 

 individual is to be found, no doubt owing to the 

 adult animals dying off during the winter or early 

 spring. 



13. Hyalina alluvia, Mull. — Very common and 

 fine, under stones and fallen timber. 



14. Hy. alliaria. Miller. — Commonly found with 

 the above, as is also the next species. 



15. Hy. nitidula, Drap. 



16. Hy. radiatula. Alder. — Not common and ex- 

 tremely local. Fine specimens may be found 

 amongst moss on the banks of the River Greta, a 

 little above Keswick, also in the woods at Bassen- 

 thwaite. 



17. Hy. pura, Alder. — Very common, that is to 

 say, the brown form. I have met with what is 

 known as var. margaritacea, Jeff., only sparingly. 



18. Hy. crystallina, Mull. — Common in woods, 

 amongst dead leaves, and attains a very large size. 



19. Hy. fulva, Mull. — Very common and fine ; 

 the var. alderi, Gray, occurs amongst moss at 

 Little Tarn, Bassenthwaite. 



20. Hy. nitida, Mull. — Common amongst the 

 dead reeds and under pieces of wood on the shores 

 of the lakes. 



21. H\. excavata. Bean. — I have not met with the 

 type, but the var. vitrina, Fer., is common in woods 

 at Bassenthwaite and Braithwaite. I have never 

 met with the type and variety living together, 

 excepting at Eastham, near Liverpool. 



22. Helix roiundaia. Mull. — Everywhere, and very 

 fine and highly coloured in some localities, in others 

 only the var. alba is found ; this is a most lovely 

 form, being of a pure transparent white ; var. turtoni, 

 Flem., seems to be the commonest form, but I have 

 taken two shells of the var. rufula, Moq. 



23. H. rupestris, Drap. — Fairly common on walls, 

 etc. ; very fine on the wall enclosing Armathwaite 

 Park. I have taken a few examples amongst the 



