THE NATURALISTS’ JOURNAL. 
IS® 
will also become very useful this month, in fact, most people 
know this but the Coleopterist will find other uses for it; as soon 
as the trees and hedges are covered with leaves they can be beaten 
over an open umbrella, sometimes old dead hedges are worth 
trying in this way. Turning over stones and clods of earth 
especially in damp places, will sometimes disclose “ rarities.”— 
A. Ford. 
CONCHOLOGY. 
Dredging for water-shells is an easy way of obtaining many 
species. On oblong tin of suitable size with holes pierced in the 
bottom, and a handle to which is fastened a long stick makes an 
inexpensive and suitable dredge. Scalarid and distorted speci¬ 
mens are prevalent amongst the Planorbes, notably P. spirorbis 
and P. umbilicatus. 
A word of advice to young collectors. Do not go in for 
collecting merely for the sake of making as large a collection as 
possible ; but study the life-histories, and peculiarities of the 
species you collect. The local distribution of shells is a subject 
of peculiar interest, the occurrence of a species in an isolated 
spot naturally leads one to consider the ‘ means of dispersal 
possessed by shells.’ What shell-collector has not failed to be 
surprised atfindingthe ubiquitous Linmceaperegra in a newly-made 
pond, and wondered how it got there ? 
Shell collectors interested in the dispersal of the Mollusca 
should read a work on the subject written for the International 
Scientific Series by Mr. Wallis Kew, it abounds in useful 
information.—E. W. Swanton, Bratton St. Maur. 
BOTANY. 
Anemone Pulsatilla on high chalky pastures. Ranunculus auri- 
comus, Thlaspiperfoliation, Alliaria officinalis, Viola hirta, Vpalus- 
tris s V. canina, Prunus communis , Pyris communis, Chrysosple?iium 
opposite folium, C. alt ernifolium, Anthriscus sylvestris, Petasites 
vulgaris, Myosotis collina, M. versicolor , Lathroea squamaria , Veron¬ 
ica arvensis , Nepeta glechoma , Primula elatior , A. veris, Cyclamen 
hederoefolium, Buxus sempervirens, Ruse us aculeatus, Tulipa sylves¬ 
tris, and Fritillaria ??ieleagris, all flower in April.—A. H. Waters ' 
editorial notes. 
It is with a feeling of regret that the Editor has to announce that after this 
month the conduction of the N. J. will pass into other hands than his. He 
had hoped to continue to occupy the editorial chair for many years to come 
but various causes have combined to produce the present undesired effect, 
however, the change will be but slight, since the magazine will in future be 
conducted by two of the present assistant editors—Messrs. A. Ford and A. 
