Notice of the Tenacity of Life in Buccinum coronatum. 89 



was supposed by Lacordaire and other authors. Mr Murray 

 mentioned a number of interesting facts relating to the eco- 

 nomy and structure of these blind insects. 



III. Notice of the Tenacity of Life in Buccinum coronatum. 

 By Alexander Bryson. Esq. 



On the 6th September 1857 we reached Marseilles on our 

 way to Naples. Having a full day to spend before the steamer 

 sailed, we drove to the Prado la Mer to search for shells on 

 the shores of the Mediterranean. On the sandy downs, close 

 by the margin of the sea, we found many Helices which were 

 new to us (Helix vermiculata, virgata), and others well 

 known to the south of Europe. They seemed very gregari- 

 ous, and we could collect them by handfulls. The shores of 

 the Mediterranean do not afford a fertile field for the concho- 

 logist, as the tides scarcely ever vary more than three feet. 

 We picked up a few Naticw, and also a specimen of Buccinum 

 coronatum, the tenacity of life in which is the object of this 

 notice. We placed the Buccinum along with our Helices, 

 and packed them all carefully in boxes, where they lay until 

 May 1858. On opening up the packages we found the Bucci- 

 num closely adherent to one of the Helices, but thought at the 

 time that it was dead. We threw them all into a basin of tepid 

 water, and found shortly that most of the Helices were alive, as 

 was also the Buccinum coronatum. We lost no time in placing 

 it in the marine aquarium of a friend, where he seemed quite 

 at home and lively. Unfortunately, however, in a few days 

 he came too near a hermit crab, who soon devoured the poor 

 Buccinum. The Helices lived in the conservatory for some 

 months, until the cold weather killed them. As this is the 

 first instance of which I have heard of the tenacity of life ex- 

 hibited by a marine mollusc, I thought it should be recorded. 



While we were strolling along the shores we saw a novel 

 method of fishing for sardines and anchovies. The fisherman 

 wades into the water nearly to the middle, and is furnished 

 with a large circular net, round the peripkery of which is 

 attached a series of leaden bullets. A long rope is attached 

 to the centre of the net, which he throws out in a very skilful 

 manner to the full extent of his line. The resistance of the 



VOL. II. M 



