396 Insects. 



abounding through its whole length with H. hortensis, the one I am speaking of was 

 confined to a distance of one hundred yards, beyond which I did not find a single spe- 

 cimen of H. hortensis ; there was every shade of yellow, and every variety of banded 

 ones, but, though I examined some hundreds, I could not find one with the lip in the 

 least degree rosy. I suppose it is what is called H. hybrida, but if this implies a mule 

 between H. hortensis and H. nemoralis, I think it is a misnomer; for though H. hor- 

 tensis is exceedingly plentiful in this neighbourhood, I know of only one locality where 

 H. nemoralis occurs, and that is four or five miles from the place where these were 

 found. If it is not a distinct species, it must be a variety of H. hortensis ; but from 

 its confined locality, and the occurrence in that locality of the young in different sta- 

 ges towards maturity, I should think it a permanent variety. To an unscientifie eye 

 the animal does not differ from that of H. hortensis. The specimens I have sent you 

 embrace every variety both in general colouring and the intensity of the rosy lip ; but 

 very few have it so faintly coloured as the palest of the five, though I have one which 

 is perfectly white. In some there are slight indications of bands, and the accompa- 

 nying ones are selected to show these in their greatest distinctness. — Wm. Turner ; 

 Uppingham, November 27, 1843. 



[The shells sent are those of Helix hybrida. I believe no one supposes the spe- 

 cies so called to be a mule between the two more common species, although the name 

 is probably intended to imply that the rarer species is somewhat intermediate in its 

 appearance. — E. iV.] 



Note on the carnivorous propensity of Snails. Oblige me by making known to the 

 public, through the medium of your valuable journal, another instance of a snail 

 feeding on the common earth-worm. On the 28th of April, whilst walking upon the 

 chalk hills, near Guildford, I saw a snail feeding on a piece of the common earth- 

 worm, about two inches long, half of which it devoured. — F. A. Chennell ; Stoke, 

 Guildford, November 4 1843. [See Zool. 201 and 257]. 



Note on the Gordius aquaticus. One of these singular worms was found last July, 

 extended to the length of two or three inches on the mould of a flower-bed, lately 

 moistened by the rain, but at some distance from any water. When captured, it coiled 

 itself up into a complicated knot, and some hours after appeared to be dead, but re- 

 vived on being put into water ; in this element it lived about a week, but gradually 

 lost its transparency, and at last died. When in health, the Gordius was transparent 

 and almost colourless, with the exception of numerous miuute dark spots, which, un- 

 der the microscope, were discovered to be eggs ; some of these were subsequently de- 

 posited, and when examined with a highly magnifying power, appeared of an oval 

 form, semi-transparent, and of a dark brown colour. — A. F. B* Let/ton, Essex. 



Note on the occurrence of Colias Edusa in November. On the 4th of November I 

 caught a male Colias Edusa, in very good condition, this will most likely be the last 

 for the season. Yet as we had frost during the latter part of October, it appears to 



Communicated by J. Gurney Barclay, Esq. 



