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The Natuealist. 



stratum, which is apparent every time a specimen is withdrawn to 

 black mud. Some of the older shells — subject, there is no doubt, to 

 years of this lazy, quiet life, — are very deeply corroded, ofttimes two- 

 thirds the thickness of the shell. Some, too, had attached to them young 

 living specimens of L. peregra and Ancylus Jluviatilis. The var. sinuata 

 occurs sparingly. Compared with typical shells taken out of the river 

 Dhoe, Isle of Man, the whole series taken are somewhat sinuous. We 

 searched on cleaning, for pearls, dreaming not to take gems, but desiring 

 to realise for ourselves their occurrence, and we were successful, if finding 

 four distorted partly spherical pieces of nacre can be called pearls. Two 

 were about one-eighth of an inch in diameter, and the others half that 

 size ; one was found laid within the shell as if held in position by the 

 exterior surface of the mantle. The other three were taken from one 

 exceedingly old specimen, and were attached, — embedded would be the 

 better word, strange as it may seem, and still does to us, — on the right 

 posterior adductor muscle. 



The scenery of Glaisdale is most beautiful ; the dale, Egton Bridge, 

 and Arnclifife Woods, exclusive of the conchological treasures, would 

 repay the visitor. Whilst returning towards the woods we took but two 

 species of land shells, H. Jdspida and S. rotundata ; but in coleoptera, 

 besides Philonthus hitermediiis, we fortunately captured two exceedingly 

 small specimens of Anchomemis prasinus ; we are as yet unable to find 

 any special mention being made of this variety. Compared with the 

 type, it is but half size. 



One word more. Knowing that the easy-chair naturalist, callous to 

 the charms of personal collecting, asks, when he reads articles dealing 

 thus with nature — " Has anything fresh been tendered, and what is its 

 use ?' we feel tempted to answer ; but as he deems only his own cribbed 

 effusions valuable, we leave him to ruminate upon them, and turn to 

 those of OUT own way of thinking, whose name is legion, and aptly say, 

 here is partly sketched a locality rich enough to repay careful working, 

 for, from a fourteen days' stay we have put forth the fullest record of 

 the occurrence and other particulars concerning H. margaritifer as found 

 in our Yorkshire Esk ; given prominence to a probably new variety 

 amongst the despised, because so common, Anclwmentis jprasims ; we 

 next claim to be the first to publish the occurrence of Tectura testudinalis 

 in Yorkshire ; that it is indigenous in our county is therefore settled, and 

 its southern limit extended from Hartlepool somewhere near forty miles, 

 and if from a dead shell found by us in Robin Hood's Bay we may 

 venture to predict its being found there, that limit must be extended six 

 miles more. Again, we claim still another record. Hitherto the fact 



