23 40 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



Physa fontinalis, E, D. Pisidium subtruncatum. 



Aplecta hypnorum, E, D. P. casertanum. 



Paludestrina jenkinsi, E. P. obtusale, D. 



Bithynia tentaculata, E. P. nitidum, E, D. 



Valvata piscinalis, E, D. P. personatura, D. 



V. cristata, E. P. milium. 



Aeicula lineata, B, D. P. pusillum, D. 

 Sphaerium corneum, D. 



Zonitoides excavatus, though common in the Deer-park near Belclare, its 

 nearest approach to the limestone area (see p. 6), is rare in the district, and 

 the Dooaghtry record rests on a single specimen taken by the late Dr. Chaster 

 nearKillary Lodge in September, 1909. The finding of Paludestrina jenkinsi, 

 the first and only record of West Mayo, in the small lake between Lough 

 Baun and the sea is interesting. This pool lies behind the great storm-beach, 

 which is a characteristic feature of the coast ; the lake is slightly brackish, 

 as the sea at very high tides flows into it, as it must also do during winter 

 gales. With P. jenkinsi, which was not by any means so common as this 

 shell usually is in Ireland, were associated small stunted forms of Limnaea 

 pereger, Valvata piscinalis, and Pisidium nitidum. The presence of Planorhis 

 glaber, associated with P. alius, is interesting, as it has often been stated that 

 these two shells do not inhabit the same waters. In all probability P. glaber 

 will in time give way before the other. The only record for Arion Jwrtensis 

 is that from the garden at McDermott's hotel in Louisburgh, where it was, 

 no doubt, imported with plants. As no previous work has been done in this 

 out-of-the-way district, we can only imagine the effects produced by the 

 shifting of the sands, which for the last hundred years or so has been the 

 curse of the Dooaghtry coast. 



From the changes which have taken place during the last hundred years 

 (compare the old and modern Ordnance maps), I should not be surprised 

 if some of the present lakes will entirely vanish during the next century. 

 The ancient graveyard, formerly surrounded by dunes, and until a generation 

 ago used for interment, now forms a fortress- like mound upon the coast, and 

 offers an ever-weakening resistance to the elements, for while the wind and 

 rain remove the lighter material from it the river undermines its foundations. 

 The sight of tombstones, skulls, bones, and even coffins and their contents, 

 sliding down a sandy slope into the river below, is one that is not easily 

 forgotten. A few Helix aspcrsa still live in this desecrated spot, rabbits 

 burrow beneaih the remaining head-stones, and the cattle use as a " rubbing- 

 post " the end of a coffin, which projects from the face of the sandy cliff. 



