IN A LIVING STATE AT FELSTEAD.
93
deposit, unlike others in the neighbourhood, does not appear to con-
tain fossils except of vegetable character.1
" Other common molluscs also live upon this bed, but one species,
H. rufescens, occurs principally as a white variety, which may be a
result of the soil.
" The vegetation on which Cyclostoma here lives is of an upland
character and has no species but those common to the locality.
" Rimmer says that the mollusc is principally found in Chalk
districts but, he adds, 'it has been found in districts where there is
no chalk.' This will apply to the greater part of Essex, but it will
be noted by all who have found Cyclostoma in such great abundance
as a fossil that it is always associated with carbonate of lime—the
equivalent for the Chalk. Its present restriction therefore seems to
be due indirectly to improved drainage."
In the accompanying letter Mr. French remarks :—
" I send you a living specimen of Cyclostoma, which after
diligent search I procured this afternoon. I saw also more than a
dozen others, but the range was so circumscribed (perhaps not more
than six yards) that I hardly felt at liberty to take even this. I wish
I could procure others from quite a new neighbourhood and put down
with them. It might be that the influx of new blood would give
them another term. As it now stands they are becoming rapidly
extinct. This, I think, finally disposes of the problem as to the
occurrence of Cyclostoma in a living state in Essex."
I would submit that there is no evidence of extinction, only of
extreme restriction of available habitat, which accident might
devastate as regards this interesting species. The immense number
of dead individuals proves suitability of conditions affecting repro-
duction, but deficiency of food supply.
ESSEX INLAND MOLLUSCA.
Mr. French propounds the following queries:—"(1) Does
Neritina fluviatilis now live in the Chelmer ? (2) Where can
Helix arbustorum be found in quantity? It was formerly very
common. (3) Why is Limnaea stagnalis found in the Ter and not
in the Chelmer ? "2
If I recollect rightly Neritina is common in the Blackwater, and
1 The specimen of travertine sent with the note consists very largely of vegetable remains
completely calcfied.—W. H. B.
2 L. stagnalis (var. fragilis) is tolerably common in ponds in the neighbourhood of Felstead.
—J. French.