Syivip fen MR eet aay Tt ota) 4 Shiadate LEA: ad > . : may Se ASL ES MDE LY “or cate, C yale apg ROTA oe ead Sot te Steen Se sh A PEELS. RITES POY Nas ac Ne, ; : , s i Ra ee : t TST oo Pesta So ial gk Ole oe < WAC re LORI IS Gaiiiend Mealy PARP FANG FSET MR Vibe e: st EAE TEP Ty cates FHS zo en gf DARA RED Ont a PArigee% SYS Pe PA ae ~y Uivision of Mollue! THE Sectional Library CONCHOLOGIST: Soa PeRey MAGAZINE FOR CONCHOLOGISTS. EDITED BY Weeki he Be COLEINGE: WOE t. LONDON : SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO. 1891. Paine ea Gale. |* completing the First Volume of “ The Conchologist,” we beg to thank the contributors and supporters thereto for their kind appreciation and support during the past year. Looking back upon the history of conchology for the last twenty-five years, it does not reveal a state of things at all creditable to British conchologists; but little has been added to our knowledge of the structure or development of the mollusca, and were it not for the researches of two or three biologists, we might almost say nothing had been published on the subject, whereas upwards of twenty works, systematic, Wc., have been written, a number of which are but ‘repetitions of a twice-told tale,” and some woefully inaccurate. It is much to be regretted that by far the greater number of conchologists (if they are deserving of the name) are little more than mere collectors: the collection and exhibition of shells forming the sum total of their endeavours. Long ago we were told by Miller that shells had amused us sufficiently, their beauty of colour and form had called forth enough of mere wonder, and that it was high time we _ left such amusement to children and became men and _ studied the living inmates, their structure and manners. Our object in commencing “The Conchologist” was, and is, to endeavour to raise the interest in and show the importance of the study of the Anatomy, Embryology, Life-History, and Variation of the Mollusca, and to present a medium for the interchange of thought and the promotion of the interests of all students working in these branches of science. With this aim we _ shall still continue, encouraged by our past success, inviting the continued and hearty support of all who approve of our intentions, sincerely thanking all contributors and supporters, and relying to a large extent upon them to make Volume II. even more successful than its predecessor. W;, Ee: Sr. ANDREwsS, N.B. LIsT “OF Aw THORS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO VOLUME I. PAGES CGockerell, ai; WD. A: FeZS.._..... ea nee aoe be B at ae 23, 50 Collinge, We E. ..- sth ae ase ae ae fis o O;, TI, 105.0305. 4Onaet Bryers@. Clares =: nae eh cee Set rE a x oe me a eg Galton, J. we ns me ee me a a Ly ae Eve os Ao Greene, Rev. Carleton, M.A. ... sn ae aR fe: jo ase ie Bee “ii Palle Ay il: sisi er fe oe as A: He, co ioe sete Ay ot Heathcote, W. Ey. . ae ae aoe st oy ae ay a aire Forman, C.D. B:Aq a . ae ae ox ys. as ae a. owe, obs Jie Dill) BARS: ESS: oe: a: e. a? ve oe on ree Fh Maud, J. E. oe ae aah se oe ae =e Ee sis wah wt 48 Neal, J. JR. ay e ee oe sa sais “es ae re si Lo Ae Nelson, William ... see ae se ea3 ae ah fee ae. fk i @utlter. H.. Ez) =. ee oe — ms! Sap wei ‘iss Bore AG: 5> le Smith, Edgar A., F:Z.S. nls vind a oe Rs sak oe Re pom Swanton, E. W. ... “ 3a uae ee es - bas er ze Bony Walker, Thos. R. = as ae fer ais Lie iz = “ae Be PS Williams, J. W. ... a se ee bas ace 2 a a3 x 1G; 16 No. 1.] MARCH 25th, 18091. [Vol. | “les Sho) CONCHOLOGIST A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FOR CONCHOLOGISTS. | WOE COL ENGE. Contents: PAGE Marine Shells of North Wales ... wes or mo Rev. CARLETON GREEN Mealy Slugs and Frost... pele aS toe egos, |. JcowE, -DuL,, F.. Resi Sem A On the Molluscan Shell and Periostracum Be st $5 He ES QuinTEeER* <5 Editors Notes... Kae iti “Re ae oe ook Se ae sc ie ae On the Synonymy of the so-called Zimax arborum and Amalia marginata—W. E. CoLLINGE 9 New Shells from Southport... ft sh se Bed Spt J. W. WILLIAMS 10 The Land and Freshwater Mollusca of Oxfordshire sae jee Wi ok. COLLINGE... 11 Bibliography sae <3 6 Be aS ee Sip ae Le, Si cana aS Reviews ... Sh ss so ee bce ae as Ah: es oe ant -mG Literature on the Genus Vitrina ... i su a) AR. N@REY £6 Notes and Queries | Ceciltanella acicula in West Kent... se J. W. WitiraMs§ 16 FA \ New variety of 4. Cantiana in West Kent, J. W. WiLLiaMs 16 Correspondence ... sit ee a ste } The Nautilus.—September and February. [The Editor. REPRIN ES. Authors of papers who may wish additional copies of Zhe Conchologist may have the same at the following rates if the order is given on returning proof. JES d, Ae Se Ch 10 Copies re Se oe 0 6 0 50 Copies ... ire Sad Ti O70 2300 a a Ae 0.12) 6-4 100 ee Fe a, ae. tT i0 0 far CeNCHOLOGINSI. ROR” 1e90- MARINE SHELLS OF NORTH WALES. sy REV. CARLETON GREENE, M.A. HE following list is the result of three visits made in 1881, 1882, and 1889. I have availed myself of the aid of other collectors in compiling it, and have to acknowledge especially the assistance’ of Miss E. Harrison, of Hendremynach, Bar- mouth ; Rey. H. Milnes, of Winster; and Miss Edwards, of Bury St. Edmunds. The records contained in Jeffrey’s ‘‘ British Conchology ” and other works have been incorporated for the sake of completeness, and are printed in italics. The reputation of Mochras as a hunting-ground appears to have declined lately, and I am informed that at Barmouth the most interesting shells have disappeared since the laying down of the new sewer-pipe. Under the term. Barmouth in this list is in- cluded all the coast south of Mochras and north of Towyn. The only place where shells were found at my last visit was at the mouth of Tal-y-bont stream, about two miles north of Llanaber Church. There may be many out-of-the-way places yet to be explored, especially in the Lleyn promontory of Carnarvonshire ; but the following list alone shows, I think, that North Wales possesses a great range of species, and deserves a high place as a region of conchological interest. Anomia ephippium. Colwyn Bay, Mochras, Barmouth, Portmadoc. A. ephippium var. aculeata. Barmouth. Ostrea edulis. assim. A2 Pecten varius. Colwyn Bay, Barmouth. P. varius var. nivea. Barmouth. P. opercularis. Mochras, Portmadoc. Colwyn Bay, Barmouth, P. maximus. Harlech, Mochras, Barmouth, Anglesea. Lima hians. Anglesea. Mytilus edulis. Barmouth. Portmadoc, Colwyn Bay, edulis var. incurvata. Barmouth. edulis var. gallo-provincialis. Bar- mouth. . edulis var. pellucida. Barmouth, Azg/e- sed. modiolus. Colwyn Bay. modiolus umbilicata. McA.) M.R.C:Sayuk RS. E. ; J. T. Marshall; J. Cosmo Melvill, M.A., F.L.S.; William Nelson; the Rev. Canon Norman, M.A., D.C.L., F.R.S. ; W. Denison Roebuck, P.L.s.3> Edgar SA. ssmith, F:Z.S:.; A. Somerville, B.Sc., F.L.S.; John W. Taylor, F.L.S.; and the Rev. R. Boog Watson, B.A., RSs, FVL:S. OK * WE are pleased to welcome an old friend in a somewhat new guise—Zhe British Naturalist —in which our readers will find a Concho- logical section under the able editorship of Niresd. Dias Cockerell. ON THE SYNONYMY OF THE SO-CALLED LIMAX ARBORUM AND AMALIA MARGINATA. W. E. COLLINGE. Hlon. Librarian and. Assistant Curator to the Conchological Society of Great Britain and [reland, HAVE lately had some correspondence with Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell with reference to the above, and as the matter does not seem to be clearly understood by all concho- logists, I have undertaken, at Mr. Cockerell’s suggestion to place it in a little clearer light than it has hitherto occupied. Limax marginatus, Miiller. = Limax marginatus, Miller, 1774. = Limax arborum, Bouch-Ch., 1838. The form which we now term Z. arborum, is, in my opinion, identical with the Z. margi- natus of Miiller, a view which Mr. Cockerell also takes. Of course this has nothing to do with the Z. marginatus of Drap., or the one of British Authors, they both being Amalia as shown below. The Zimax sylvestris, Scopoli, 1772, is also referable to Miiller’s form, Mr. Cockerell thinks, but his description is too poor to admit of certainty. 10 LITE, “CONGZOLOG/S i Amalia marginata, Drap. = Limax marginatus, Drap. This species is not a British form, although it has been figured and described by English authors. Amalia Sowerbyi, Fer. = Amalia carinata, Leach. = Limax marginatus, Auctt. Britt. = Amalia marginata, Roebuck, ce. There seems to be little doubt but that Férussac’s name must here have _ priority, although that of Leach’s is certainly anterior by three years. But from the fact that Leach’s work was, although printed, only privately circulated amongst his friends, and not actually for sale to the public until long after, it is only fair that the former title should be acknowledged. From the above remarks it will be seen that the two forms we have in Great Britain are— Limax marginatus, Mull. = L. arborum, Bouch.-Ch., and Amalia Sowerbyi, Fer. = L. marginatus, and Amalia marginata, Auctt. Britt. Much confusion has been caused in the past, and it is to be hoped that for the future conchologists will acknowledge priority in these matters. NEW SHELLS PROM SOUTHPORT. By J. W. WILLIAMS. Rs G. W. CHASTER has forwarded me some shells from Southport for the purpose of notification, and these, as far as I am aware, have not hitherto been recorded for South Lancashire. ‘They are :— Amalia marginata, Miill., which were found on the banks of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, close to the bridge at Lydiate. Hyalinia alliaria, Mill, which are described as ‘‘fairly common among grass” on cops, (a cop being a steep bank used to en- close fields), near Hesketh Woods, and also on Birkdale sand-hills. ‘To these, Dr. Chaster says his attention was “first attracted by the alliaceous smell.” Hyalinia excavata, Miill. and stones (two specimens were found) on the road-side between Ormskirk and Halsall. from under some stones in a wood at Among grass One specimen was also taken the base of Parbold Beacon. Helix aspersa, Mill. This shell is not mentioned in the revised census of the Conchological Society as having been yet seen from South Lancashire by the referees. Dr. Chaster, in enclosing speci- mens, says that they are found “abun- dantly among grass and nettles, and on willows, near Hesketh Wood. Also, in a garden, in York Road, Birkdale, where they have probably been recently intro- duced. Helix virgata, Da Costa. Among grass, in Meols Cop Road, where, Dr. Chaster was informed, it had been found for the last ten or twelve years. On ground enclosed by the New Promenade, ‘‘where it has almost certainly been recently introduced.” The specimens from this last locality, as submitted to me, include Moquin’s var. lutescens. “The shells from the two localities differ distinctly in size and. colouration, especially when quantities are compared. ‘The places are about two miles apart.” Helix pygmeza, Drap. grass on the cops around a small area — Plentifully among BE CONCHOLOGIST. 11 of ground in the midst of Birkdale sand-hills. - At Hesketh Woods, Scaris- brick, Rufford, and Bispham. ‘ A_bag- full of grass (two or three quarts),” says Dr. Chaster, will yield, from the first-named locality “ thirty to fifty speci- mens.” Vertigo pygmza, Drap. Associated with H. pygmea, on the cops in the middle of Birkdale sand-hills. Pupa marginata, Drap. Abundant at the roots of starr grass, on Birkdale sand- hills. ‘The quotations indicated by inverted commas are from Dr. Chaster’s letter to the writer. THE LAND AND FRESHWATER MOLLUSCA OF OXFORDSHIRE. By W. E. ‘CoOLLINGE: UT few works have been written on the Molluscan Fauna of the different counties in Great Britain and Ireland. Numerous local lists of Oxford have been published, but from the fact that they have appeared in various scientific periodicals, and at different times, their value is to some extentde cresed by their necessarily uncollected and inaccessible form. I have been induced to put together the fol- lowing pages, partly by the want I have felt myself, during the years my attention has been devoted to Oxfordshire Mollusca, and partly with the hope of presenting to the conchologist and naturalist, new matter relating to the subject, and a concise and handy means of reference to the molluscan fauna of the county. Failing any recognised divisions of the county, I have termed the eight different centres I have worked from “districts,” except where the records are but few or rare I have not given them in detail. To the many correspondents (to whom my thanks are equally due, but too numerous to mention individually), from whom I have received much valuable information, I tender my warmest thanks. ‘To Messrs. O. V. Aplin, MB:OLUs> 2 4D: A, Coekerell, the” ey: S. Spencer Pearce, M.A., William Nelson, W. Denison Roebuck, F.L.S., and J. W. Williams, I am much indebted for their advice, records, lists, examination of critical forms, and other services which they have so generously placed at my _ disposal. At the conclusion of this list I shall give a brief review of the physical features of the county, the bibliography, &c. LIS OF DISTRICTS: 5. Bicester. 2. Chipping Norton. 6. Oxford. 3. Wychwood & Charlbury. 7. Swincomb. 8. Henley. 1. Banbury. 4. Deddington. TESTACELLA, Cuvier. Testacella haliotidz, Drap. This is not at all uncommon, but is seldom seen above ground. I have met with them at a depth of from four to five feet, as well as nearer the surface. Testacella scutulum, Sby. I find a record for this species in my papers as occurring near Oxford, in 1887. I have not since met with it, and I am now inclined to think that these specimens were T. haliotide. LIMAX, L. Limax maximus, L. = L. cinereus, Miill. This, the largest of the Limaces, is very plentiful throughout the county, occurring pro- fusely in all the eight districts. 12 THE “CONCHOLOGTLS T: Var. cellarius, D.’Arg. In Norman’s list for 1853, the occurrence of a variety in which the shield is ““ spotted with black, and the back marked with longi- tudinal lines” is recorded, which, I think, may be referred to this form. 7. Swincomb.—“ Not uncommon on_ the hedge-banks of the Henley road, from half-a-mile to a mile from Watlington ” (Norman, 1853). Limax marginatus, Mull. = L. arborum, B.-Ch. This species, which is fairly common in suitable localities, is generally found upon beech trees. Although I have never witnessed this slug raise and lower itself by means of its slime, it undoubtedly does so, for on moist damp days, long glistening threads, from six to eight inches in length, may be seen hanging from the branches of the beech trees. .Mr. Wm. Harte, F.R.G.S.I., who has paid some attention to the spinning habits of this slug, has caused them to spin threads, and to re-ascend by them, and, judging from the “perfect ease and regularity with which they do it,’ he is of opinion “that they are well accustomed to it.” If gorged with food, he states, “the slime is thin and unable to sustain the slug, but if kept over-night with- out food they perform well next morning,* which I have found to be the case with other species. 1. Banbury.—Not of frequent occurrence. 2. Chipping Norton.—Fairly common. Wychwood and Charlbury.—Plentiful on oe the beech trees. Oxford. —Plentiful. [ony 7. Swincomb.—Very common. Proc. Dub. Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. IV., pt. ii. Limax variegatus, Drap. = L. flavus, Auctt. An exceedingly common and abundant form. occurring in all the eight districts. — Var. suffusus, Roeb. 3. Wychwood and Charlbury.—Rare ; found between Charlbury and Stonesfield. Var. lineolatus, Collinge. * Animal a very light yellow, ashy grey on the keel; tentacles yellowish; each side of the body striped with a dark brown line, com- mencing faintly near the tentacles and converg- ing on the keel; foot pale yellow. Iam not aware of any previous record of such a variety as the above, banded forms of flavus being, I Mr. T. 1D. A. Cockerell informs me that Limax calendymus, Bourg., believe, very rare. from Madeira—which he thinks is probably a variety of Z. favus,—exhibits an arrangement of the markings approaching banding, but is distinct from “eo/atus.” 1. Banbury.—Hedge bottom, Neithorp ; and garden, Banbury. Agriolimax agrestis, L. Probably the most abundant species of the Limacide in the county. It is well distributed, occurring in all the eight districts in great numbers. Miller describes this slug as ‘ shy,’ states ‘that if touched it will withdraw its ten- tacles and lie as if dead for a whole day.” My ? and observations do not at all agree with these statements. I have found it exceedingly active, and the tentacles are almost immediately pro- truded again after touching. Rimmer says a specimen he had was “ exceedingly lively, and, when touched, instantly protruded its tentacles, extended its body, and crawled along rather rapidly.” Lda? CON CHOLOGIST, 13 Var. albidus, Picard. 4. Deddington.—Single specimen. Agriolimax levis, Mill. This active and interesting slug is a some- what uncommon form, and is never met with in any large numbers. It frequents damp and wet places, and requires carefully looking for. 1. Banbury.—In dead leaves by Broughton Castle. 2. Chipping Norton.—Few under logs of wood. 3. Wychwood and Charlbury.x—Met with sparingly, near Charlbury. 6. Oxford.—Fairly common. 7- Swincomb.—Occasionally met with. Amalia gagates, Drap. This is not at all a common form, being somewhat local, and confined to the Northern divisions of the county. 1. Banbury.—Met with sparingly, near Little Bourton. 2. Chipping Norton.—Two specimens near » Lidstone. Var. rava, Williams. I have met with a variety which agrees with the description of this form, viz.: “animal drab coloured, slightly fuscous, with the mantle of a lighter colour than the back.” 1. Banbury.—Near Little Bourton. Amalia sowerbyi, Fer. = A. carinata, Leach. Not an uncommon form, but never met with in large numbers. 1. Banbury. —Broughton. 2. Chipping Norton.—In two gardens at Kingham (S. Spencer Pearce). 5. Bicester.—Weston-on-the-Green, Rev. A. Matthews (Norman, 1857). 7. Swincomb.—Few, near Swincomb. ARION, Fér. Arion ater, L. This fine slug is found in great abundance throughout the county. Some specimens I collected near Bodicot were covered to an unusual extent with the small white parasites, Philodromus limacum, Jenyns. Simroth has pointed out that slugs of a red colour are re- jected by birds, &c., or only the viscera eaten, I have noticed that the variety ~w/fus Linné. of this species is seldom if ever eaten by birds. A very erroneous idea is prevalent amongst Naturalists in general that slugs and snails are exclusively herbivorous ; judging from my ex- periments on this and other species I am of opinion that they will eat almost anything, as has, since my observations, been shown to be the case.* Var. rufus, Linné. t. Banbury.—Often met with, Banbury, Blox- ham, and Broughton. 6. Oxford. Woodeaton, &c.—The Rey. S. Spencer Pearce, B.A., records ‘‘a hand- some dark brown variety in the Kim- meridge Clay-pits, at Shotover hills,” which I think may be referred to this variety. 7. Swincomb.—Not uncommon. Arion subfuscus, Drap. A plentiful and well-distributed — species, varying much in colour, the specimens in the southern parts of the county being generally much lighter. Arion hortensis, Fer. A common form throughout the county. A very lazy and inactive species. Var. rufescens, Moq. 1. Banbury.—Met with on several occasions. 4. Bicester.—Two specimens. *H, Wallis Kew, F.E.S., ‘ Naturalist,” April, 1889, p. 103. 14 TALE. CONCHOLOGIST, Arion circumscriptus, Johnston. = A. bourguignati, Mabille. A not uncommon form, though I have but few records. Mr. W. Denison Roebuck, F.L.S., has on more than one occasion called attention to the fact that this species occurs in open fields and open country, rather than in woods and gardens like the other members of this genus, which I have found to be the case in this county. I have records from all divisions except 3 and 8. SUCCINEA, Drap. Succinea putris, L. This mollusc, which is well distributed throughout the county, is never met with in any large numbers, and as usual, in marshy places. Succinea pfeifferi, Rossm. Comparatively rare. It is recorded as rare at Oxford by Norman in the 1853 list. The form that occurs there is the variety rufescens, Cockerell—a reddish shell and shallow suture. Whiteaves (1857) speaking of this shell as a variety of S. putris, says it is very plentiful. 1. Banbury.—Stretch (1855). . Rare; few near Broughton Castle. 6. Oxford.—-Rare, in a ditch running along the side of Cowley Marsh (Norman, 1853). Very plentiful (Whiteaves, 1857). Var. pallida, Moq. 6. Oxford.—Very plentiful (Whiteaves, 1857). Var. rufescens, Cockerell. 6. Oxford.—Rare, in ditches. Succinea elegans, Risso. I have only two records for this pretty shell. In 1887 I collected three specimens on the banks of the Churwell, near Banbury, and in the same year I obtained four or five from Oxford. VITRINA, Drap. Vitrina pellucida, Miill. This beautiful mollusc is a common and well distributed form in the county. In Nor- man’s list of 1853, it is recorded as ‘very rare” in the Oxford district, a statement which cannot at all hold good to-day, as it is as common there now as elsewhere. As I elsewhere stated, this molluse is much more plentiful in the winter months than the summer. ‘Gray observed that l. pellucida possesses the power of jumping an inch or two from the ground. I have observed that when crawling on the edge of some stone or leafless twig, it will sometimes suddenly give its tail a jerk, sufficient to throw shell and owner to the ground, where it is soon lost to sight amongst surrounding vegetation, at other times it will roll away a few inches and repeat the jumping motion. Another means of protection it possesses is that of attaching to itself bits of leaves or soil, which entirely cover the shell and animal, thus causing it to resemble the natural surroundings.”* HYALINA, Fer. Hyalina draparnaldi, Beck. Occasionally met with, but rare. I am informed that it has been found near Oxford, but have not seen the specimens. Norman, in his list of 1853, recorded what he thought to be a variety of My. radiatula taken in Magdalen Walks, which I think may possibly have been this species. 7. Swincomb. — Three specimens _ near Swincomb. Hyalina cellaria, Mill. A very common and _ plentiful species, occurring profusely throughout the county. (To be continued.) * Obs, on V, pellucida, Zool., p. 467. 1890. TEE CONCHOLOGIST: 15 BIBLIOGRAPHY. Annals and Magazine of Natural Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist.—Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell continues History. JANUARY. Notes on Slugs, chiefly in the Collection at the British Museum.—T. D. A. Cockerell. Notes on Some Shells received by the British Museum.—Edgar