Taylor : Notes on Swiss Mollusca. 



35 



Tlie species observed, were mostly such as are also found in the 

 British Isles, but curiously enough our rarer and more local kinds as 

 Clamilia parcula, C. hiplicata^ Helix obvolida, &c., are amongst the 

 most abundant species, whilst some of our commonest shells as Helix 

 aspersa, H. mn/afa^ &a, I did not observe at all during my stay. 



Two species are also found in Switzerland {Helix incarnata and 

 H. fruUcum) which formerly existed in England, as attested by their 

 fossil remains in our upper tertiary formations, 



I entered Switzerland from France at Basle, which has a quaint 

 and novel appearance, caused by the overhanging eaves and variously 

 coloured and fancifully arranged tilings of the roofs of the houses. 

 On my way to see the beautiful monument to the Swiss patriots 

 killed at the battle of St. Jacob, I observed great numbers of Helix 

 pomatia crawling about, a passing shower having greatly influenced 

 their appearance. Helix nemoralis also occurred in the same locality. 



At Neuhausen is situate the Falls of the Bhine, locally known as 

 the " Laufen,'' the largest -and most imposing falls in Europe ; the 

 river being here nearly 400 feet wide with a total descent of 100 feet. 

 The water is beautifully clear, and from the railway bridge above the 

 falls, which may be crossed on foot, the rocks forming the bed of the 

 river are distinctly visible. On a sloping grassy bank bordering a 

 Vineyard on the north side of the river Bulimus detritus was very 

 common, and Helix pomatia occurred near the same place. On the 

 south side of the river on the walls and vegetation Qlausilia hipUcata, 

 Pupa secale, and Helix obvoluta were very common : Zonites glaber^ 

 Cluusilia Imninata, and Helix lapicida also occurred here. The Zonites 

 glaher is interesting as being a species long confounded with Zonites 

 alliarius, by British Conchologists, but its specific characters are not 

 so definite in British as in continental specimens. 



Helix lapicida which occurred very plentifully on the face of the 

 rocks moist with the spray from the falls, is of a form which attains its 

 extreme development in the Philippine Islands in Helix planidata, &c. 



On the foliage of the bushes which clothe the sides of the cliffs 

 bordering the river, Helix sylvatica, Helix Jiortensis, Helix lapicida and 

 Helix fruticum^ were excessively abundant. I got here a very nice 

 ■specimen of the variety rufida of H. fruticum. 



Helix sylvatica so plentiful here, I only met with in one other place. 

 Deshayes, the great French concliologist, at one time proposed uniting 

 this species with Helix nemoralis ; though undoubtedly closely allied, 

 there does not seem to be any good ground for merging them into 

 one species. 



