modern conchologists) is another shell of which somewhat the same might be said. It is an African form, but recorded by Da Costa from Lancashire. (See Linnæan Transactions, viii, 176.) One circumstance is particularly worthy of record in this place, for the knowledge of which I am indebted to my friend Mr. Byerley. It refers to Mya arenaria, a shell which was at one time found but rarely, and then dead. About ten years since, however, Mr. Byerley found that in a large piece of salt-water, enclosed by the recently constructed sea-wall immediately south of Seacombe slip, and to which the sea had access by a small opening, Mya arenaria occurred in great numbers, and often of peculiar form. The valves, instead of being of the ordinary form, were more or less twisted, sometimes as much so as in the case of the shell called Arca tortuosa. In addition to this peculiarity, a remarkable variation occurred in the interior. A lamina of the nacreous layer was separated from the interior of the shell, which thus formed a pouch into which a portion of the adductor muscle was inserted. In the same pool, and burrowing in the mud, might be found a number of magnificent Dorsibranchiate annelids, a foot long, of the species Eunice gigantea, (?) but the locality from which these interesting animals were once obtained in plenty no longer exists, and a busy ship-building yard now stands upon the spot.

One family of Mollusca, however, has a zoological history in connection with the estuaries of the Mersey and Dee, viz., the Nudibranchiata. Some of these are at present peculiar to those rivers, and the researches of Messrs. Price, Byerley and others, have indissolubly connected their names with the history of British Nudibranchs. In the Mersey, two species have been discovered by Mr. Price, which have no other locality. These are Embletonia pallida, and Doris proxima. The former was a minute species, described, but not figured in Alder and Hancock's great work, (Appendix, p. xii.) and

differing, (if it really differed, however, and was more than an immature specimen) from the other British species, E. pulchra, in having a double series of papillæ on each side, the tentacles placed nearer together, and the oral lobes small and indistinct, being united over the head in front, into a semi-circular veil. It is to be regretted that no figure of this supposed species occurs, since no other specimen has been. found, and the locality is now either destroyed or so altered by the construction of the Birkenhead docks, as to render the discovery of another highly improbable.

Another species of Nudibranch may be claimed as a special possession of the district. This is Antiopa hyalina, an extremely beautiful form, first made known in 1851 by Mr. Byerley, who discovered it at Hilbre Island, at the mouth of the Dee. The figure in Alder and Hancock's work was made from this individual, which proved, however, to be an inferior specimen. Again, in 1854, the species was found in the same spot as before, a much finer specimen, and a third specimen occurred in 1859. Since then it has also once been taken. There are few instances of a species so well marked as Antiopa hyalina, recurring so often in the same spot, to the exclusion of all other localities; and the presence of this single species gives an interest to the Dee which is not surpassed by any other river.

An interest of a similar kind is given to the Mersey by the discovery in it of a species of Nudibranch, which though peculiar to the district proves to be not uncommon in the Mersey, nor indeed wholly confined to it, since it has also been found in the Dee. This is Doris proxima, a species

first made known to Mr. Alder by Mr. Price of Birkenhead. At first it appeared to be a mere variety of Doris aspera, but closer examination disclosed points wherein it differed very importantly from that rather common form. But the remarkable fact is, that although commonly met with in these rivers,

it has, to the best of my knowledge, never been recorded hitherto as found anywhere else. On the other hand Doris aspera is unknown in the Mersey and Dee.

But besides these three species which are of such peculiar historical interest, it may be mentioned that of Doris subquadrata, first discovered at Torbay in 1845, the second specimen was found in the Dee in 1851; of Eolis Landsburgii found at Saltcoats in 1846, the second specimen was found in the Dee in 1849; while of Eolis concinna, of which four specimens were first taken at Whitley, in Northumberland, specimens were found for the second time in the Mersey in 1859.

There are but two other groups of invertebrate animals whose history in this country is connected with the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire. These are Spiders and Zoophytes. No connected history of the former has appeared prior to the publication of Blackwall's "Spiders of Great Britain and Ireland" by the Ray Society. Owing to the fact of a few gentlemen located in Lancashire, in the neighbourhood of Manchester and Southport having taken up the subject numerous discoveries of species have been made which clearly indicate that the science of Arachnology in England has but made a beginning, and that there is a wide field for future research. The numerous species which have been met with but once or twice, and the richness of the few localities in which diligent spider-hunters happen to have resided fully prove this, and hence Lancashire has a permanent zoological and historical interest in connection with this class of animals. I will enumerate the more interesting species which have been discovered in this country.

Of the following Spiders the only specimens recorded have been taken in our county, viz., Salticuss parsus, on the walls of Crumpsall Hall, near Manchester, in summer of 1828, (Annals, 2nd scr., vol. vii, p. 401). S. floricola, on the sandhills at Southport, by the Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge, in

1859. S. Blackwallii, near the sea-shore at Southport, discovered by the Rev. Hamlet Clark in 1855. Drassus pumilus, of which the Rev. O. P. Cambridge discovered an adult female on the sandhills at Southport, in June, 1859. Philodromus oblongus, has been taken only in the north of Lancashire and Cheshire. Drassus reticulatus, was captured by Mr. Walker, near Lancaster, in 1850. Linyphia vivax, described in the Linnæan Trans., xviii, 657, from specimens discovered in the greenhouses and melon-pits belonging to Mr. Darbyshire, of Green Heys, near Manchester, in Sept., 1836. Linyphia gracilis, of which mature males were found on rails at Crumpsall Hall, in Nov., 1836. (Linn. Tr., xviii, 666.) Neriene rufipes, obtained at Crumpsall, in 1832; N. lugubris, also obtained in the same locality in 1834. N. trilineata, not uncommon in the neighbourhood of Manchester, concealing itself under stones. N. abnormis, taken at Crumpsall Hall, in Oct., 1836; Walcknaera turgida, in the same place also in 1836. W. aggeris, at Southport, in 1859, by Rev. O. P. Cambridge. W. humilis, first obtained in Oct., 1836, under slates in a garden at Crumpsall Green, afterwards on rails at Crumpsall Hall, and in 1840 near Garstang, by Miss Clayton; and W. fastigiata, described from specimens found among moss at Southport, by Rev. O. P. Cambridge, in June, 1859.

Many interesting species also are recorded as having been first taken in Lancashire, though subsequently found elsewhere;-as Drassus clavator, discovered by the Rev. O. P. Cambridge, on the sandhills at Southport, in 1859, and afterwards at Portland. Linyphia Claytonia, of which the original description was made from adult males taken by Miss Ellen Clayton, near Garstang, and described in the Linnæan Trans., xviii, p. 664. Linyphia insignis, the original specimen of which was an adult female, captured by Mr. John Parry, at Trafford, near Manchester, in the autumn of 1837. (Linn. Trans., xviii, p. 662.) Neriene gracilis, first taken at Crump

M

sall Hall, in 1836. N. munda, also first discovered by Miss E. Clayton, at Garstang, in 1840. (Linn. Trans., xviii, 642.) N. dubia, of which the first specimen was captured at Crumpsall Hall, in 1836. Walcknaera acuminata, first taken by Mr. Thos. Blackwall, in 1832, in the township of Crumpsall. W. monoceros, discovered by Rev. O. P. Cambridge, at Southport, in 1859. W. obscura, at Crumpsall Hall, in 1834. W. flavipes, at same place, also in 1834. W. cristata, found in Oct., 1832, by Mr. Thos. Blackwall, in the neighbourhood of Manchester. W. picina, by Mr. T. Glover, in 1838, also in the neighbourhood of Manchester. W. frontata, at Crumpsall Hall, in autumn of 1832; since then at Lancaster, and in Cheshire; and Pachygnatha Clerkii, discovered by Mr. T. Blackwall, among rubbish in the township of Crumpsall, in 1831.*

A few Insects also deserve notice as connected with our historical Fauna. Lithosia molybdeola, has been taken only on the Lancashire mosses. Nyssia zonaria, was originally discovered upon the sandhills of New Brighton and Crosby, and since then at Hoylake, Puddington, and Point of Air. Rhodaria sanguinalis, which occurs abundantly upon the Wallasey sandhills, has only been taken as rare isolated

In addition to this most interesting list of Spiders identified historically with Lancashire, many other species are found in this county among the few localities which are known for them. Of these I will merely enumerate the following list :

Salticus frontalis
S. distinctus

Thomisus erraticus

Philodromus cespiticolis

Clubiona comta (rare)

Cælotes saxatilis

Neriene marginata

N. errans

Pholcus phalangioides (Liverpool) Walcknaera cuspidata (rare)

Linyphia fuliginea

L. rubea

L. alticeps

L. longidens

Pachygnatha Listeri

P. Degeerii

Dysdera Hombergii (common)

But, it is somewhat remarkable that none of the rarer Epëiridae have been met with in Lancashire.