Reports of Societies. 



43 



citation, the cause of the erosion of shells is not hidden, for even when 

 well supplied with algse, the animals take a delight seemingly in eating 

 the shells of their associates, until in some cases the habitation is eaten 

 through, and the animal dies. Given, then, two aquaria — one artificially, 

 and the other naturally supplied with water, in each case a certain form 

 of shell being produced — might we not then surely say that decollation, 

 especially in fresh-water molluscs, is due to the action of snails other than 

 the occupants of the decollated shells, when its cause has been traced in 

 the artificial, and no other cause can be assigned in the natural aquarium ? 

 Can we hope that we have given the deathblow to the long-drawn idea 

 that water molluscs cut ofi" the apex of their own shells so that they may 

 be lighter in travelling ? In all my decollated peregra other points of 

 erosion are palpable, plainly pointing to a natural cause for the production 

 of the variety decollata amongst our fresh-water molluscs. — In the Esk at 

 Cruckley Gill we found Unio Margaritifer, and rarely the var. sinuata ; 

 in the woods there, Helix fusca. Amongst marine findings we have 

 nothing to add beyond var. Ehdissima of Trochus cinerarius, "SVIiitby, 

 and CJiiton marginatus, Hobin Hood's Bay. — Henry Crowther, The 

 Museum, Leeds, Sept. 17th, 1879. 



Acronyda alni near Wakefield. — Wliilst beating for larvse in Haw 

 Park, a boy (J. H. Hunt) whom I had to assist me, beat a half-grown 

 alni larva out of an oak bush. It is still alive, and now prefers saUow to 

 oak for its food. — C. W. Richardson, St. John's Grove, Wakefield, 

 Sept. 17th. 



Acronyda alni at York. — On Tuesday last 1 was at Sandbum with my 

 friend ]\Ir. R. Hind and his son Austen, when the latter found a very 

 fine full-grown larva of A. alni. — W. Prest, Sept. 17th. 



Entomologicae Captures at Skegness. — At Skegness, on Saturday 

 last, F. Cardui was in great abundance ; I and Mr. W. Talbot took six 

 very good specimens each, and saw a great many more. Flusia gamma 

 literally swarmed, and proved a great nuisance. The larvae of B. rubi 

 and E. J acohece, were to be seen everywhere on the sandhiUs and in aE 

 stages of growth from half-an-inch long. — C. W. Richardson, Sept. I7th. 



Entomological Captures near Doncaster. — At Edlington Wood, on 

 Sept. 1st, with my friend ]Mr. C. W. Simmons, I found Scoparia hasistri- 

 galis stni out, but much worn ; and Theda W-alhum. We had also the 

 pleasure of taking a fine series of Hyponomeuta plumhella. When I 

 reached York I saw that Mr. Hind, who was with us at the August 

 excursion, had also bred H. plumhella from larvae then taken off spindle. 

 I also took in the wood fine specimens of Ennomos angularia and Tinea 

 semifulvella. — W. Prest, 13, Holgate-road, York. 



Correction. — In the "List of Mosses occurring near Wetherby," in 

 the September number of the Naturalist, Ulota intermedia, Schpr., is an 

 error : how it got inserted I know not. I find also Barhula Hornsdiudw 

 iana and revoluta in plenty on limestone walls. — J. S. Wesley. 



