8736 



Aquarium. 



died, the other I have bred, and it came out on the 17th of this month, a fine female. 

 About a dozen years ago I bred a male from larva? obtained at the Liverpool Railway 

 Works, whilst cutting timber for sleepers. During the past thirty years a year has 

 seldom past but I have either received this species or known it to have occurred in 

 this neighbourhood; in fact, I think it has naturalised itself a few miles from here, 

 but I do not like to publish the locality, for fear it should share the same fate as 

 Sesia Scoliaeformis, although I have not the slightest objection to give the information 

 to any gentleman in whom I may have confidence, so as not to destroy its breeding. — 

 S. Carter ; 20, Lower Mosley Street, Manchester. 



Serpula contortuplicata throwing off its Operculum. — On the 2nd of August a very- 

 fine Serpula contortuplicata in my tank threw off its operculum, and from all I had 

 read on the subject I expected nothing but its death as the result. For six days I 

 watched, each morning supposing I should find it stretched helpless on the pebbles. 

 But no ! On the 7th I noticed that the tiny secondary trumpet had so enlarged as to 

 become somewhat conspicuous, while the animal continued in apparently first-rate 

 health. It is now three weeks since the loss of the first operculum. The new one 

 has assumed perfection as to shape, size and use. The only falling short in the present 

 organ is that it does not quite enclose the lips of the gills when the Serpula retreats 

 into its tube. The fans, too, have contracted rather a ruffled look from the temporary- 

 loss of their protection. — Edith Acraman ; Ilminster, Somersetshire, August 24, 1863. 



Remarks on Planorbis corneus. — About five years ago I introduced two specimens 

 of Planorbis corneus into a fresh-water aquarium situated in a southerly aspect. 

 The aquarium was previously tenanted by specimens of Paludina Listeri from South- 

 port ditches, which increased rapidly; also by Dreissina polymorpha, Bithynia tenta- 

 culata and a few golden carp (Cyprinus auratus). The aquatic plants were Hottonia 

 palustris, Hydrocharis Morsus-Rana3, &c. The lively habits of the Planorbis con- 

 trasted favourably with' the sluggish Paludina, and I soon took a special interest in 

 watching them. At any approaching change of weather they range themselves, as do 

 also the Paludinse, at the edge of the water. A slight touch of the finger and they 

 drop instantly to the bottom of the vase, from whence they rise by an almost im- 

 perceptible motion. They have the power of floating shell downwards at the top of 

 the water, the mouth being at the surface, which at such times is rapidly moving, as 

 though it used it as a means of locomotion. When travelling at the sides of the 

 aquarium a considerable portion of the body of the animal is sometimes exposed, a 

 tempting tit-bit to a hungry fish, whose attempts at scraping an acquaintance are 

 rejected unceremoniously by presenting his shell for acceptance, which being tolerably 

 hard and too large for Mr. Carp, is at once declined. Smaller specimens are, how- 

 ever, occasionally taken into the fishes' mouths, but speedily ejected with considerable 

 force. One of the two specimens of Planorbis died a few months after I received it, 

 and the fish having also, one after another, followed its example, I placed the aquarium 

 outside the house for the winter. Some months after the death of the first Planorbis 

 I found that the survivor had deposited several patches of a gelatinous matter at the 

 sides of the glass, and also on the under sides of the Hydrocharis. — 'Naturalists' 

 Scrap Book,' Part 6, p. 94. 



