Freshwater Mollusca of Ireland. 



25 



neath masses of the fallen leaves of forest trees contiguous to that 

 plant. About three o'clock, when it began to grow dusky, they com- 

 menced stirring about on the green leaves of their favourite Luzula 

 sylvatica, where in less than half an hour I procured a dozen of them. 

 I have since occasionally seen this species on the stems of trees at 

 a considerable height from the ground and in very dry weather. 



8. Helix fulva, Mull. Gray, Man. p. 148. pi. 5. f. 47 ; Drap. p. 81. 



pi. 7. f. 12, 13. 

 H. trochiformis, Mont. p. 427. t. 11. f. 9. 



Although not common, is generally distributed over the island, 

 and found in woods among fallen leaves and timber; and under 

 stones, &c. in various situations from the sea-side to the mountain. 

 It seems rarely to occur in quantity, but once at Wolfhill near 

 Belfast, I found thirty individuals congregated under one small 

 stone. 



The H. Mortoni, agreeing both in animal and shell with Mr. Jef- 

 freys's description (Linn. Trans, vol. xvi. p. 332.) is obtained along 

 with H. fulva, but has always seemed to me wanting in sufficient 

 characters to render it a distinct species. That the animal of H. 

 Mortoni is lighter coloured than that of H. fulva, is not of conse- 

 quence, as the young of various Helices are lighter coloured than 

 the adults. 



9. Helix aculeata, Mull. Gray, Man. 149. pi. 4. f. 33 ; Drap. p. 82. 



pi. 7. f. 10, 11. 

 H. spinulosa, Mont. p. 429. t. 11. f. 10. 



Although the individuals of this Helix are generally but few in 

 number where they do occur, the species is distributed over Ireland, 

 and is found in moss, on fallen timber, under stones, &c. — out of 

 " woods " I have as frequently met with it as in them : high up the 

 limestone mountain of Ben Bulben (county Sligo) I have obtained 

 it, but nowhere in Ireland have seen so many specimens together as 

 in the limestone debris at Feltrim Hill near Dublin. From the 

 marine sand-hills at Miltown Malbay, on the western coast, Mr. W. 

 H. Harvey has supplied me with a few specimens, noting the species 

 at the same time as " very rare." Mr. T. W. Warren of Dublin in- 

 forms me that early last winter he procured sixty individuals of this 

 species on one occasion near Portmarnock (county Dublin) : some 

 weeks previous to this time he found a few specimens at the place, 

 and following the plan of the Rev. B. J. Clarke (see note to Helix 

 lueida), he laid down sticks and stones that they might shelter under 

 them, and with such success that he obtained this number. None of 

 our Mollusca more than this requires the collector to be wide awake, 

 else he may pass it by for a pellet of dirt or at least a seed. As one 

 of the rarer species, it may be mentioned that out of Ireland I have 

 found this shell at Dovedale, Derbyshire, the " dean" at Twizel 

 House, Northumberland, and near Ballantrae in Ayrshire. 



