By the Rev. J. E. Vize. 



91 



detached from their shell by means of a large pin or such like 

 instrument, care being taken not to injure the mouth of the shell. 



If for the latter, let them be turned into an aquarium and run 

 the risk of accomodating themselves to their new home. Nothing 

 is simpler than the formation of an aquarium for snails. Purchase 

 your glass or tank, get some mud from the bottom of a pool, let 

 it be a couple of inches thick, then procure some stones which may 

 be placed artistically or flat as preferred, then fill with water. But 

 be sure to have some vegetable life such as anacharis, chara, 

 valisneria, &c, with the animal life : for success in an aquarium, 

 coupled with the advantage of never changing the water, depends 

 entirely upon a proper balance or proportion of these two things. 



It is time now that especial notice be taken of "Wilts. With re- 

 gard to the county it must be understood that all parts lying to 

 the south-east, except Salisbury, the south- west below Warminster, 

 the north-west above Chippenham, and the whole of the north-east 

 divisions, made according to Mr. Flower's map published in your 

 Magazine for June, 1858, have been quite unexplored by myself or 

 any one else known to me. But it so happened that having been 

 led to open and read the Address made at your Sixth General 

 Meeting (April 1860) part xviii., page 248, the worthy President 

 remarks " We hope to induce many more to join us who at present 

 keep aloof from a most mistaken notion that our Society is a very 

 learned and scientific body, whereas it proposes nothing more for 

 its objects than the investigation of little-known facts, the elucida- 

 tion of half forgotton occurrences, the collecting information about 

 past generations, and some insight into the Natural History of the 

 County in all its branches." Let this be sufficient apology for all 

 imperfections, and if only what is now said can be instrumental in 

 inducing some one else to be interested in the study, it will be no 

 harm if from time to time they send to your most excellent 

 Magazine the results of their researches for your acceptance. 



Let us compare Wilts with some counties near us, and see 

 whether it bears a fair proportion of students of Land and Fresh 

 Water Shells. Comparisons may be odious sometimes, but when 

 the object is to create a spirit of honest emulation there can be 



