3430 Mollusks. — Insects. 



Subterranean Colony of Fresh-water Mollusks. — A few days ago, while passing 

 along the City Road, at the turnpike near St. Luke's Hospital I stopped to look at 

 some large water-pipes which had recently been taken up to be replaced by others, and 

 was surprized to find them harbouring great numbers of the fresh-water Mollusca, 

 Neritina fluviatilis and a Lymnaus. From the state of the interior of the pipes they 

 had evidently been under ground for many years ; and the question arises — What did 

 these mollusks, which were in good condition, and coloured as usual, find there to live 

 upon in their subterranean abode? — John MacGillivray ; March 12, 1852. 



[I have since visited the spot, and find a number of species besides those mentioned 

 by Mr. MacGillivray. — E. N.~\ 



Entomological Localities. By J. W. Douglas, Esq. 



(Continued from page 3348). 



The Downs near Croydon. 



" What more felicity can fall to creature 

 Than to enjoy delight with liberty ? 



Spenser. 

 M The love of Nature and the scenes she draws 

 Is Nature's dictate. * * * 



The air salubrious of her lofty hills, 

 The cheering fragrance of her dewy vales, 

 Aifil music of her woods." 



Cowper. 



South of Croydon, the chalk formation rises through the plastic clay 

 into gentle undulations, which are thickly covered with short grass, and 

 known as "the Downs;" locally distinguished as Sanderstead Down, 

 Riddlesdown, Stoat's Nest, Banstead Down, &c, but all presenting 

 the same general characteristics of soil and plants. The whole district 

 was in former time covered with dense woods of beech and oak, of 

 which but small portions now remain, such as the Purley oaks, and the 

 few old beech trees on Sanderstead Down. Many portions are culti- 

 vated, and the rest, scattered over with hedge-rows, thickets of thorn 

 and hazel, juniper and furze bushes, affords fine pasturage for sheep, 

 and " such small deer " as the entomologist loves to hunt. How long 

 it may be ere we shall have these hunting-grounds swept from us by 

 the advancing tide of cultivation, as the forests and prairies of North 

 America were wrested from the red Indians, I know not ; but I see 

 an inroad has lately been made at Stoat's Nest, where many acres of 

 surface have been burnt and ploughed up. Unfortunately, for us there 

 remains no " far West; " and when these and other haunts have been 

 over-run by the "pale faces" of cultivation, we, or it may be another 



