Short Notes and Queries. 



69 



Another proof of their abundant distinctness is afforded by the researches 

 of Ferdinando Sordelli, who demonstrated by careful dissection that there 

 are important differences in the internal structure of the reproductive 

 organs in the two species. L. cinereo-niger seems to be very rare in 

 Britain, for the specimen of which I write is the first I ever saw, and of 

 the records there are only about three which can be apportioned to it or 

 its varieties in Britain ; but on the Continent it is well known and not 

 uncommon. 1 will take advantage of this opportunity to say that 1 shall 

 be extremely pleased to receive consignments of living slugs (which 

 should be sent in air-tight tin boxes) from any part of the British Isles, 

 especially the more remote districts. I am working at their distribution 

 and variation, and wish to have all the species, common, as well as rare, 

 from every county. So far I have had assistance from various corres- 

 pondents, and nearly every parcel I have received has been productive of 

 novelties for the British fauna, so utterly unworked have the slugs been 

 up to this time. Mr. J. H. Salter sent me from Waterford a large 

 number of forms, including Testacella Maiigei, var. viridans, and the 

 magnificent var. bicolor of Avion ater, both new to Britain. Mr. R. 

 Benton, of Fans, near Earlston, N. B., has also sent numerous fresh 

 things from that district, and Mr. E. J. Elliott, of Stroud, has been even 

 more successful ; while my old friend Mr. C. Ashford, of Christchurch, 

 Hants, has sent me specimens of all which occur with him, including a 

 puzzling series of a species (or variety ?) which will afford much material 

 for study. I am almost inclined to believe that I am on the track of a 

 new species (new to Britain, that is). I shall be glad to receive the 

 common species of as many more districts as possible, and it is my 

 intention to publish notes from time to time upon such consignments as 

 I may be favored with. — W. Denison Roebuck, Sunny Bank, Leeds, 

 Oct. 18th, 1883. 



Fox Shark, &c., at Bridlington Quay.— Mr. Thomas Boynton, of 

 Ulrome, writes me that on the 19th inst. a specimen of the thrasher, or 

 fox shark, lift, long, was landed by some fishermen at Hornsea. Towards 

 the end of August, two porbeagles were also taken by fishing-boats in 

 Bridlington Quay. One of the latter is preserved by a Beverley bird- 

 stuff'er, and measures about 5ft. in the dried state. Sharks and their 

 allied species appear, from fishermen's reports, to have been unusually 

 numerous this autumn on our coast, probably attracted by the large 

 shoals of herrings, of which extraordinary catches have been made. 

 Though unconnected with Natural History, it may interest some of your 

 readers to learn that Mr. Boynton has found and dug out near his village 

 one of the primitive lake dwellings hitherto chiefly found in Switzerland, 

 and fixed the site of at least four more. It is said to be the first instance 

 of such a discovery in England. It has been recently examined by Dr. 

 Munro, a gentleman deeply versed in the subject, and probably a 

 report will appear in one of the scientific journals. — N. F. Dobree, 

 Beverley, 22nd Sept., 1883. 



