RURAL NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 
posts and fences on the coast, where many good insects may be 
found occasionally ; several species may also be found under 
bark. Flood-refuse is always very productive, if examined when 
the water is at its height, many great rarities being sometimes 
obtained in numbers, and the coleopterist should always be on 
the look-out for floods in his vicinity.—A. Foud. 
CONCHOLOGY. 
I gave a list in the January No. of those species which may be 
found in sheltered spots under favourable conditions and my 
remarks apply equally well for this month. Helix rupestris and 
IT. fusca do not appear to suffer any inconvenience from the cold 
weather, and may be taken from exposed situations during 
several degrees of frost. The former species has a predilection 
for old walls. Mr. Rimmer has observed the latter abroad and 
active (crawling on the blades of the Great Hairy VVoodrush) at 
a time when the thermometer registered 26 degrees. The winter 
habits and habitats of the slugs deserve attention—I often notice, 
at this time of the year, Arion ho?'tensis and A. fasciatus snugly 
ensconced under large stones in the hedgerows; Agriolimax 
agrestis under logs and sticks ; and Limax maximus concealed 
under the bark of fallen trees. I may add that students of the 
slugs will do w'ell to take in the “ Journal of Malacology/' a quar¬ 
terly magazine edited by Mr. W. E. Collinge of Mason College, 
Birmingham ; it is the only magazine extant that contains reliable 
and up to date information on slugs and slug-like genera.—E. W. 
Swanton, Bratton St. Maur. 
RURAL NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 
ROYSTON, CAMBS. 
January 1st, 1894: From the time I penned my last notes 
about the middle of December, all zoological matters have, 
in this locality, been exceedingly dull, but only in keeping with 
nearly all other mundane affairs. As I have nothing to tell my 
readers, perhaps some of them may be able to give me some in¬ 
formation on the two following questions. 
1. —Is it a very common occurrence to meet with tape-worm 
in the wild rabbit ? I have seen a good deal of this animal, but 
I have no recollection of meeting with a case till now. 
2. —Can anyone give me anv authentic record of inter-breed¬ 
ing of the common sparrow with the tree sparrow, Passer mon- 
tanus ? I fear I shall get but little information unless the tree 
sparrow is better known in other places than it is here. I have 
