Mollusks. 3761 



botanists as containing in profusion the fringed yellow water-lily (Villarsia nymphce- 

 oides) and the sweet-smelling flag (Acorus Calamus). — R. Wakefield ; Sussex Place, 

 Regent's Park, November 26, 1852. 



Land and Fresh-water Mollusca of Oxford and its Neighbourhood. 

 By Alfred Merle Norman, Esq. 



The following list has been drawn up from specimens which I have 

 myself found in the neighbourhood of Oxford during the last eighteen 

 months. The range of many of the species which it contains is very 

 limited, and consequently this locality for them may be acceptable to 

 some of your readers. I believe that the list of water species is nearly 

 if not quite complete ; but as regards the land shells, I cannot help 

 thinking that more are to be found somewhere or other, although I 

 have searched the immediate neighbourhood pretty closely for them. 



The study of our inland Conchology has of late years met with 

 many votaries, and deservedly so, for it is in itself a most interesting 

 pursuit, and can be most conveniently followed in conjunction with 

 Entomology; in fact no one ought to study the one without the other. 

 The entomologist, while collecting water-beetles, must necessarily at 

 the same time obtain many shells in his net ; when examining rocks 

 and stones, he must meet with many Helices, Zonites, Bulimi, &c. ; 

 and when he brings home his bags of moss, and searches for Staphy- 

 linidae and other minute Coleoptera, he will at the same time probably 

 find many Clausiliae, Pupae, Vertigines, &c. : and so on in numerous 

 other instances. Thus by having both objects in view, the collector 

 will very often have the advantage of procuring rarities in one or other 

 of his pursuits to reward him for his trouble ; whereas had Entomo- 

 logy or Conchology alone been his object, he might have returned 

 home empty-handed and disappointed. 



The nomenclature used is that of Turton's excellent little c Mauual 

 of Land and Freshwater Shells.' 



Neritina fluviatilis. Very abundant in the Cherwell, on Confervas, 

 stones, and dead shells of Anodon cygneus. 



Paludina vivipara. Common in many of the ditches round Oxford, 

 particularly near West Hinksey. 



„ achatina. River Cherwell. I have not found it in any of 

 the ditches. 



Bithinia tentaculata. Very common both in streams and ditches. 

 XI. G 



