6 
THE NATURALISTS’ JOURNAL. 
to have been brought over from America in cotton bales, and 
so to have found their way into the canal. This continued to 
be the only known British locality for them until about live 
years ago, when I was so fortunate as to find them in the 
canal at Burnley, also near a cotton mill. This seems to 
confirm Mr. Rogers’ theory as to their introduction. I have 
just visited the locality, and find they are increasing rapidly, 
as I found them at places along the canal for over a mile. 
They are most abundant in places where the bank is walled ; 
feeding on a kind of smooth, silky algae, which grows plenti¬ 
fully in such places. They are a small species, somewhat 
resembling PI. nautileus , but may be easily recognised by the 
very large mouth of the shell, which is composed of about 
three whorls. I have also found them abundantly in a cis¬ 
tern at Gannow, on the top of an engine-house, and fully 
sixty feet above the canal from which the water is pumped. 
F. C. Long. 
32, Woodbine Road , Burnley , Lancs. 
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SWAN-MUSSEL. 
(Anodonta cygnea). 
“ Where are you a-shoving to, young fellow? That’s the 
second time my shell has been nearly smashed by one of 
your heavy lumbering race. Why don't you crawl like 
another respectable mussel, and not come dropping on anyone 
in that ungainly fashion ? But one must expect it from a 
person of your low race. -Move down further, young man, 
and don’t crowd on me so.” 
It was a swan mussel that spoke. Autumn had arrived, 
and the men were weeding the pool. Great heaps of decay¬ 
ing water-thyme lay round the margins; mixed with them 
were small animals and the like that had been ignominiously 
dragged out by the large wooden rake of the pond-weeder. 
In one of these heaps was our friend the swan mussel, who 
had reached there but a moment before, and who had been 
so upset by the sudden and unlooked-for appearance of a 
heavy-shelled Unio, which had dropped on the top of her with 
a crash that came near breaking through her frail ribs. The 
Unio proceeded to clear out of such close proximity to her, 
and at the same time let it be known to the general race of 
UnioSj and for their future edification and reform, that he 
apologised. 
“ Madam,” said he, opening the two valves of his shell so 
that his gills could plainly be discerned within, “ I am 
extremely sorry if I have caused you the slightest incon- 
