Notice of the Tenacity of Life in Buccinum coronatum. 89 
was supposed by Lacordaire and other authors. Mr Murray 
mentioned a number of interesting facts relating to the eco- 
nomy and structure of these blind insects, 
III. Ni^tice of the Tenacity (f Life in Buccinum coronatum. 
By Alexander Bryson. Esq. 
On the 6th September 1857 we reached Marseilles on our 
way to Naples. Having a full day to spend before the steamer 
sailed, we drove to the Prado la Mer to search for shells on 
the shores of the Mediterranean. On the sandy downs, close 
by the margin of the sea, we found many Helices which were 
new to us (^Helisc vermiculata, virgata), and others well 
known to the south of Europe. They seemed very gregari- 
ous, and we could collect them by handfulls. The shores of 
the Mediterranean do not afford a fertile field for the concho- 
logist, as the tides scarcely ever vary more than three feet. 
"We picked up a few Nudcm^ and also a specimen of Buccinum 
coronatum, the tenacity of life in which is the object of this 
notice. We placed the Buccinum along with our Helices, 
and packed them all carefully in boxes, where they lay until 
May 1858, On opening up the packages we found the Bucci- 
num closely adherent to one of the Helices, but thought at the 
time that it was dead. We threw them all into a basin of tepid 
water, and found shortly that most of the Helices were alive, as 
was also the Buccinum coronatum,. We lost no time in placing 
it in the marine aquarium of a friend, where he seemed quite 
at home and lively. Unfortunately, however, in a few days 
he came too near a hermit crab, who soon devoured the poor 
Buccinum. The Helices lived in the conservatory for some 
months, until the cold weather killed them. As this is the 
first instance of which I have heard of the tenacity of life ex- 
hibited by a marine mollusc, I thought it should be recorded. 
While we were strolling along the shores we saw a novel 
method of fishing for sardines and anchovies. The fisherman 
wades into the water nearly to the middle, and is furnished 
with a large circular net, round the peripkery of which is 
attached a series of leaden bullets. A long rope is attached 
to the centre of the net, which he throws out in a very skilful 
manner to the full extent of his line. The resistance of the 
VOL. II. M 
