Mollusks. 3901 



although for the most part small, are possessed of much beauty, and 

 for that reason a larger share of interest than the mollusks of a larger 

 growth. They likewise occupy a most important station in the marine 

 Fauna of the British Isles. In some localities the minute Rissoas, as 

 R. parva, and some of the Skeneas, as S. planorbis, are to be found in 

 the greatest profusion. The best way for collecting them is to cut 

 the weeds from the rocks and carry it home in bags ; the weed having 

 been well washed in fresh water, may be then thrown away, and the 

 shells, mud, &c. at the bottom should be placed in a current of air to 

 dry, after which they may be examined and sorted in a black tray, the 

 minute shells being removed with a hair pencil. Two or three fine 

 sieves will much assist the operation and save time. 



Within the last few months the magnificent, and, to the collector, 

 most invaluable work on the i British Mollusca,' by Messrs. Forbes 

 and Hanley, has been brought to a conclusion, and affords ample ma- 

 terial for the extensive deductions so ably drawn in the Introduction. 

 The peculiar geographical situation of Great Britain, and conse- 

 quently its temperate climate, combined with its varied and extensive 

 line of coast, tend to produce a list of the marine Testacea equally 

 varied and extensive. 



The following extract from the Introduction to the work expresses 

 all I wish to bring before the conchological readers of the ' Zoologist.' 



" Were a person desirous of accumulating personally and rapidly a 

 collection of British mollusks, he would fail in his object if he con- 

 fined his researches to any one locality, even though it embraced a 

 considerable reach of coast and variety of sea bottom. Four districts 

 at least would have to be visited. To the Channel Islands he would 

 have to go for several forms almost extra-British : on the South-west 

 coasts he would find not a few mollusks that he would seek for in vain 

 in more northern or eastern seas : only on the West coasts of Scot- 

 land many species of great interest and peculiarity could be readily 

 obtained. In the extreme province of the Zetland Isles he would ga- 

 ther some of our most remarkable rarities : and possibly after all he 

 would have to visit as much of the northern half of the German Ocean 

 as may be claimed for our Natural- History province, and the West 

 coasts of Ireland, before his cabinets could be fairly filled." 



This extensive system of dredging, which but few if any one per- 

 son has accomplished, being completed, and the ponds, rivers, and 

 running streams, and the hilly limestone ranges having been searched 

 for the species frequenting such situations, the results would be as 

 follows : — 



