92 
WATER SNAILS. 
the Royal Agricultural Society (new series), with some observations 
as to its prevention; but independently of the anatomical and veteri¬ 
nary aspects of the subject some amount of inquiry is sent to me 
occasionally regarding the presence of, or means of getting rid of, the 
Snails; and the appearance of these common Water Snails does not 
seem to be so well known as is desirable. The figure is therefore 
Water Snails. j 
1. Limnceus truncatulus ; 2, L. pereger ; 3, L. stagnalis. 
given of the Limnceus truncatulus, which is considered to be the species 
most infested in the early stage of the Fluke, and the L. pereger , 
sometimes but apparently not so often infested. The L. stagnalis is 
merely added, as, though I am not aware it is a “ host” for Fluke, its 
comparatively large size conveys the appearance of this genus of 
shells more plainly. 
These Water Snails (L. truncatulus and L. pereger ) wander about, 
and may be found in the damp grass, as well as in pools; but it is 
stated of L. truncatulus , “ It deposits its spawn on the mud, which is its 
usual habitat, and, not like its congeners, on the stalks and underneath 
the leaves of water plants.”—‘ British Conchology,’ vol. i., p. 117, by 
J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S. 
During the years in which I had personal knowledge of Limnceus 
at Sedbury Park, Gloucestershire, they were excessively prevalent in 
small field-ponds or drinking-places, where floating water plants, 
weeds round the bank, and more or less mud, according to weather or 
season, gave every encouragement to their increase. Clearing the 
shallow pools of weeds, and removing the broad band of weed-grown 
or stagnant mud from the entrance end of the pool, would have 
certainly at once greatly lessened the quantity of Water Snails, and it 
may be conjectured also that of rot in our sheep, which were constantly 
affected to a serious extent; and if in the course of the coming season 
I should be favoured with any notes of field and pond treatment found 
useful in lessening these living shelters of the early stage of the Fluke, 
I should be glad to insert them in my next Report. 
