468 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



generally found beneath dead leaves, moss, fallen trees, stones, &c. It is 

 exceedingly hardy, and has been observed by Nilsson crawling upon the 

 snow. I have often collected it during a hard frost, and it is much com- 

 moner in winter than in summer. As several conchologists hold contrary 

 views, I give below a list of places in which I have observed this species, 



both in summer and winter : — 



Summer. Winter. 



Adel, near Leeds ... ... 20 54 



Do. 10 104 



Do. 12 83 



Meanwood, near Leeds... ... 19 31 



Broughton (Oxford) 5 16 



Wroxton „ 11 19 



Little Bourton „ 23 57 



It is very active and constantly on the move, and were it not for some 

 special contrivance with which Nature has endowed this mollusc, it 

 would soon become extinct. To crawl abroad in mid- winter, when all food 

 for birds is so scarce, would certainly be very risky were it not for these 

 special means of defence, if I may so term them. Gray observed that 

 Vitrina pellucida possesses the power of jumping an inch or two from the 

 ground, an observation which I think has not until now been confirmed. 

 I have observed that when crawling on the edge of some stone or leafless 

 twig, it will sometimes suddenly give its tail a jerk, sufficient to throw 

 shell and owner to the ground, where it is soon lost to sight amongst sur- 

 rounding vegetation ; at other times it will roll away a few inches, and 

 repeat the jumping motion. Another means of protection which it possesses 

 is that of attaching to itself bits of leaves or soil, which entirely cover the 

 shell and animal, thus causing it to resemble the natural surroundings. 

 Miiller long ago described how " when placed under water (where it is 

 capable of remaining for a considerable time without injury) it drew in its 

 tentacles, at the same time making itself rigid, in order that it might appear 

 to be dead. Having remained for a few hours in this position it crawled 

 slowly out of the water, and, cautiously protruding its tentacles to make 

 sure that the way was clear, it hastened to a safe hiding-place and retreated 

 within its shell." The animal is capable of being entirely contained within 

 its shell. I mention this as in a recent addition to conchological literature 

 it is stated that this is not so. It is both herbivorous and carnivorous, its 

 food consisting mainly of decaying vegetable matter ; but it is not averse, 

 should opportunity present itself, to make a meal of its own kind, or other 

 molluscs or worms. I have tried a number of times to get the species to 

 suspend itself by its slime, but have not been successful ; its slime appears 

 to be not sufficiently tenacious. Although at times it travels far away 

 from its original patch of leaves, or log of wood, it generally returns to the 

 spot it has left. — W. E. Collinge (41, Springfield Place, Leeds). 



