Ba-IKStow : NatukaL HisioiiY Xotes feoai Suuth Aficica. 191 



struggle meritoriously to replace them, but these are usually neglected 

 by otherwise disappointed collectors. I have taken scores of smashed 

 Malapium Uueatum (a lovely shell, when good) but only two really 

 acceptable specimens. I have gathered one hundred MUra picta^ over 

 fifty Bulla apertn, over two hundred of either Desmulea, but out of the 

 whole collection to select a series for my cabinet is not a gratifying task. 

 Judgitig from a congeries or mass of particles wliere bits of strange 

 shells are certain to congregate, I might safely infer that undercurrents 

 and heavy seas have imported us treasures from distant parts, or else 

 the marine fauna of South Eastern Africa is rich in unrecorded species 

 of inaccessible location. A fortnight ago I picked up a fine but small 

 DentaUam (?) I don't think it is recorded from the Cape. I am no 

 adept in the arrangement of mollusca according to the laws of generic 

 or specific areas, in the ai t of provincialisation — if I may so coin the 

 word — but if not a genuine native, from where has it travelled, this 

 fragile delicate shell of an insignificant creature 1 Did it descend from 

 the Red Sea and preserve animation until within reach of our raging 

 waters? or as a friend suggests, " was it swallowed by a fish near the 

 Indian coast, which took an excursion wu Sunlh ; (j(jt sick away from 

 home after digesting the animal, and dif-gorged the shell as unpalatable 

 in the Algoa Bay ?' In either event the journey must have been long 

 and tedious. Perhaps you can assist me in the problem. 



I am now nearly at my jourrey's end : — first impressions, one of 

 winding lanes and twisted alleys ; and many sighs have been gulped, 

 many regrets uttered that I am not quite at home amongst the strange 

 forms and faces, habits and languages, of my beloved chums. I started 

 planless, I finish planless. Much I might have said, much I might 

 have omitted. Touching mollusca, why did I omit mention of the 

 great African Acltatina % or why not tell you about my prolific 

 Lepisma writing desk friend, which always bids me welcome and then 

 flees away in terror 1 What have I to say about our noble Crustaceans, 

 or most cmious fishes 1 Reply there is none. Is there otie class 

 beseeching recognition more than another 1 If so I give the palm to 

 Grmtacm^ and deeply deplore my inability to treat upon them. I have, 

 however, drawn a couple of marine examples for you Decui/jonH (PI x.) 

 to which surmise all details. The indefatigable Farquahar gathered 

 then!, and several of our Society members are now tackling the class in 

 real earnest. This is a fitting place to state one of our little grievances. 

 We are always pleased to give value for value, specimens (in duplicate) 

 for information rendered, but when solitary ones are sent tc be iiaujcd, 

 with accompanying request to return until duplicated ; I submit the 



