1216 Mollusks. 



Speaking of the Father Lasher (Cottus bubalis), he says " it will live a long time out 

 of water as has been already noticed ; yet, when taken out of the sea, if put into fresh 

 water, it dies instantly." The above appears not to have been the result of Mr. Yar- 

 rell's own observations, but to be extracted from ' Loudon's Magazine of Natural His- 

 tory.' While staying at Brighton during the summer of last year, I took several 

 " Rock Dolphins " as they are there called, with a hand line from the Chain Pier, and 

 the following note on one I extract from my journal, " caught a rock dolphin which 

 after being half an hour out of water and seven hours in fresh water is still alive." 

 It did not shew any dislike to the fresh water, and when after the above period had ex- 

 pired I transferred it to some sea water, it took no notice of the change. It died dur- 

 ing the night, It appeared to be a sluggish fish, seldom moving, except when 

 disturbed. Immediately I saw Mr. Yarrell's figure of the father lasher, I recognized 

 my old friend the rock dolphin ; two of my friends did the same. — George Guyon, Vent- 

 nor; Isle of Wight, December 8th, 1845. 



Singular mode of catching Eels. — In the hard frosts of last year I saw a method of 

 eel-catching practised which was new to me, and would go far to prove that the hear- 

 ing of fish is nearly deadened by cold. The eels had come, as they usually do in such 

 cases, to the surface of the water immediately below the ice, and where it was clear, were 

 easily seen. About two or three inches off them, a hole was cut through the ice large 

 enough to admit a pair of nippers, with which the eel was summarily pulled out. 

 Where there were reeds projecting through the ice the concussion carried downwards by 

 any blow on them was sufficient to startle the fish, but where the ice was uninterrupted 

 they usually lay quite still till extracted ; I tried the plan myself after watching it for 

 some time, but did not calculate the difference of weight between myself and the boys 

 whom I saw fishing, so that though the hole I broke was large enough in all 

 conscience, it was in a position much more likely to give me as food for the fishes than 

 vice versa. I saw only eels taken, but was informed that some perch and tench had also 

 been captured in this singular way. — H. T. Frere, Aylsham. 



Carnivorous propensity of common black slug . — A few days ago I caught a large 

 black slug (Limax ater), in the act of devouring a common earth-worm, fully one- 

 third of which had disappeared, when I left him to the enjoyment of his morning 

 meal. — T. J. Bold ; 42, Bigg Market, Newcastle. 



Carnivorous propensity of common Slug. — In my daily walks between Exley and 

 Halifax I have had opportunities of noticing the carnivorous propensities of the com- 

 mon slug. I have twice observed them feeding on dead specimens of the family to 

 which they belong, and once I watched one for nearly a quarter of an hour making 

 a meal of a large worm. — Francis Richardson ; Halifax, October 22nd, 1845. 



Irish locality for Amphipeplea involuta. — This very beautiful little shell, so well 

 known for its rarity, I had the satisfaction of taking in abundance, in September last, in 

 the only locality in which it has hitherto been found in the United Kingdom. It was 

 first discovered in Ireland by Mr. Harvey, of Limerick, and was subsequently taken by 

 Mr. Thompson of Belfast, Mr. R. Ball of Dublin, and others, but always in exceed- 

 ingly small quantities. It probably occurs in many of the lakes so common on the 

 Kerry mountains ; nevertheless, it is a singular fact that it has not ever been observed 

 in any other than the original locality. During a recent visit at Killarney I examined 



