152 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



second week in August. If these are the very same individuals 

 brought here in 1882 or 1884, they cannot at the present time be less 

 than eighteen years old, and may be a good deal older, for they were 

 all full-grown, or very nearly so, when first brought here. H. pomatia 

 is not, as far as I am aware, indigenous to any part of Suffolk, even on 

 the chalk, and the soil here is by no means of a calcareous nature, but 

 consists of sharp flinty gravel and sand. When full-grown the shell 

 of this species is so thick and strong as to be proof against the ham- 

 mering process resorted to by the Thrush, and I doubt whether the 

 jaws of the Hedgehog would be able to crack it. Except among 

 insects, it seems to have few enemies. From its large size, H. pomatia 

 is well suited to the vivarium, for its ways and doings are so much 

 more easily and conveniently observed than is the case with smaller 

 species. The laying and hatching of the eggs, growth of the young, 

 and the elaborate preparation for the winter made by, this Snail by 

 burying itself just beneath the surface of the soil, and constructing a 

 sort of temporary operculum, are all interesting processes to watch. — 

 G. T. Rope (Blaxhall, Suffolk). 



AEACHNIDA. 



Collecting in Australia. — Perhaps the most numerous group of 

 Australian Spiders are the Epeirse. But, though there are un- 

 doubtedly very many species, it is still my opinion that the number 

 tabulated by Herr Koch in his work on Australian Spiders might be 

 greatly reduced. Of course, it is foolish to censure one so im- 

 measurably more conversant in the subject, but I think I am right in 

 saying that specimens which have been bottled some months, and 

 which have travelled all the way to Germany, are rather likely to 

 mislead the describer, and tend to the enumeration of too many 

 species. What is wanted out here is some collector thoroughly 

 acquainted with the subject, who will be able to spend all his time 

 in the study, and so achieve better results. Of course, some good 

 work is being done by the authorities of the Australian Museum, and 

 also by some few private individuals ; but these, as a rule, are not able 

 adequately to publish the results of their work. If some institution, 

 such as the South Kensington Museum, or other, were to send a 

 collector to spend some years in Australia, I think it would be found 

 that there is still more to be done than has ever yet been anticipated. 

 Practically speaking, there are no real workers in Australia, and con- 

 sequently the subject is rather neglected. It is not only to investigate 



