NOTES.
47
H. virgata, Da Costa. This shell is in reality not common
here.
H. pygmaea, Drap. Recorded in error: it should be struck
out of the list.
Pupa ringens, Jeff. Fossil from shelly-marl, Bushey Leys.
The effect of the above corrections and additions is to erase three
species (Planorbis nitidus, Helix pisana and pygmaed) from the list;
to modify the statements as to the occurrence of six species, and to
add to the list seven species and one "variety" (Pisidium fonti-
nale and B. henslowana, P. pusillum, Valvata piscinalis and cristata,
Zonites alliarius and glaber, and Pupa ringens), I much regret the
necessity for making the corrections ; in many cases the errors arose
from confounding the young of one species with the adult form of
another. I am greatly indebted to Mr. J. W. Taylor, Vice-president
of the Conchological Society, for kind assistance in revising the list
and deciding on the correct names of doubtful specimens.
Extermination of Plants by "Botanists" (?)—In the recently issued
"Report of the Felstead School Natural History Society" for 1887, the follow-
ing passage occurs :—"We take this opportunity of recording a protest against
the scandalous behaviour of certain persons unknown, who in May last outrageously
dug up and carried off from the only known habitat in this neighbourhood some
hall dozen roots of one of our rarest plants, Fritillaria meleagris. We visited the
precious spot ourselves on April 30th and May 5th, and found a happy and pro-
mising family of about seven roots. At our next visit, May 8th, a dire and
unexpected calamity revealed itself in the total disappearance of all but one plant,
which, growing at some little distance from the rest, had escaped observation.
Let us hope, at any rate, that the marauder was ignorant of the heinousness of
his offence, and that if this protest meets his eye, he will replace the plants, and
so far as possible repair the mischief he has done." We most thoroughly endorse
the outspoken words of the writer of the above paragraph, but it is to be feared
that ignorance cannot be pleaded by the culprits in the majority of such cases of
reckless eradication—too many so-called "botanists" find it to their advantage to
gather large numbers of specimens of rare plants for the purposes of barter ; and
the existence of the pernicious "Exchange Clubs" has done much to increase
the evil.—Ed.
Boulder near Roxwell, Essex.—I have unearthed another interesting boulder
from that inexhaustible museum, the Roothing clay; viz., a large block of lime-
stone from the Kelloway rock, containing very many fossils, principally small
ammonites and some species of bivalves. It has also the impression of a large
ammonite about twelve inches in diameter. The boulder was identified by Mr. B.
B. Woodward, F.G.S., and his opinion was corroborated by Mr. R. Etheridge,
F.R.S. I have also had an opportunity of examining another section of the above-
named deposit at Little Boyton Hall, Roxwell, where the Blue Boulder Clay
mentioned in the Essex Naturalist, vol. i. page 280, again occurs at a depth of
about 30 ft., and continues to 43 ft., the depth of the well. Unfortunately I am
unable to ascertain to what further depth it descends.—Reginald W. Christy,
Roxwell, February18th, 1888.