THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



35 



write about them I will not take up space by a mere list of names, especially 

 as I hope to give a complete list of the mollusca of the bay on a future 

 occasion. I will, therefore, say no more, at present, about the Gasteropoda 

 of this region. 



I intended confining this paper to the univalves of the Wash but I 

 cannot forbear mention of one or two of the Conchifera. 



The Kazor shell (Solen ensis) abounds, but I have experienced a difficulty 

 in getting specimens small enough for my aquaria, and large ones do not 

 thrive well at all. I keep specimens of the common cockle ( Cardium edule) 

 in broad earthenware pans, half-full of sand, and with just enough water to 

 cover the latter and no more. 



Erom Cockles to Mussels is a natural transition. Although I cannot 

 keep adult specimens of the common edible mussel \Myl%lus edulis) alive 

 for many months, young individuals are constantly making their appearance 

 in my aquaria, and live for a tolerably long time. They attach themselves to 

 the glass at the very surface of the water, in which they lie half in and half 

 out. They by no means remain persistently at one spot, but often 

 capriciously shift their quarters. I have known individuals to travel in a 

 few weeks more than once round a vase, whose circumference was over four 

 feet. They usually choose night for their travels, but I have seen them on 

 the move in the day time also. Their mode of progression is interesting too 

 although it is tediously slow. 



Mussels are very common at Hunstanton, and there are extensive beds of 

 these edible molluscs, so relished by many people. Although cart loads of 

 them are daily gathered for transportation inland, and excursionists carry 

 away a large number, they do not seem to suffer any diminution. There are 

 always thousands of young ones growing up to replace the larger individuals 

 which have literally " gone to pot," and from observation of the specimens in 

 my aquaria they appear to grow very fast. They have other foes beside their 

 human ones ; Starfish and Dog Whelks destroy a good many, and the former 

 must work no inconsiderable havoc among them. Wherefore, those who get 

 their living by gathering the mussels ought to be profoundly thankful to all 

 naturalists who visit the beds for collecting purposes, and, like myself, carry 

 off for purposes of dissection or preparation for the cabinet all the specimens 

 of Ur aster ruhens and Nassa incrassata they can lay their hands on. 



There are many other bivalves of which I might make mention, but I will 

 omit them, and bring these gossipping notes to a close as far as marine 

 mollusca are concerned. In future " Conchological Jottings," I will say 

 something about the land and fresh-water shells of Cambridge, which are, I 

 believe, at present, undescribed. 



