ON THE LAND MOLLUSCA. 
23 
Achatina (. A . acicula ) burrows in the ground, above the surface of 
which it is scarcely ever seen. 
Of the Caeychiidae there is only one British genus and species 
amongst the land Mollusca, Carychium minimum , and it is the 
smallest mollusk we possess. It appears to occur only near running 
water, and it is probably more widely distributed than might be 
inferred from the recorded localities, for, owing to its minute size, 
being only jr of an inch in length and - 3 -V of an inch in breadth, it 
is very apt to be overlooked. 
Of the Cyclostomatid^ the genus Cyclostoma has only a single 
British species, C. elegans , which occurs on calcareous soils, and its 
most usual habitat is under the surface of the soil or amongst 
decaying leaves at the foot of beech trees. It is not easy to find 
alive, though its empty shells are frequently met with, and from 
this circumstance, probably, it has been inferred to be extinct in 
the northern part of our county. 
Our only species of Acme ( A . lineata ) occurs under stones and 
amongst moss in damp places. 
To collect our land Mollusca all that is absolutely required are a 
few small boxes—pill-boxes do very well; it is, however, as well 
to have a small wide-mouthed glass bottle for slugs, as this will 
retain the moisture necessary for their existence better than boxes 
of any kind. I have also found a small brush, such as an 
ordinary camel-hair pencil, very useful in picking the minuter 
kinds off stones, leaves, &c., and forceps or a strong needle set in a 
wooden handle, will sometimes be found of advantage in getting the 
smaller species out of crevices in stones. On the boxes (and bottles 
if used) should be written the name of the locality from which the 
specimens have been obtained and any particulars it may seem 
advisable to record as to the habitat, the food-plant, &c., of the 
different species; or the boxes may be numbered and the particulars 
written against the corresponding number in a note-book. 
The mention of food-plants reminds me to draw your attention 
to the importance of ascertaining, whenever possible, and recording 
on what the various species feed. Almost all our species being 
herbivorous, and many of them doing considerable damage to the 
vegetation on which they feed, it is desirable, not only in order to 
work out fully the life-histories of the various species, but also for 
economical considerations, to know what is their favourite food. I 
have found several species feeding more frequently on the plantain 
(both Plantago major and lanceolata ) than on other plants associated 
with it, and therefore have been led to examine its leaves more 
than those of other plants in searching for the smaller species. 
Nettles perhaps come next in order, and sometimes after showers 
they may be found studded all over with different species both 
large and small. 
Yery small species should not be put into the same box as the 
larger ones, so that they may not be lost sight of and may not 
get damaged ; and it is better not to put many of the larger species 
together into one box, without isolating them in some way, for 
