136
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
I must remark that I really feel much obliged to you for the exercise
of my little knowledge of Conchology, which has lain dormant so long
that I am rather doubtful of myself when I am dividing the shells. I
think I am now sending you Pupa umbilicata and marginata with
Zonites radiatulus. If I am correct in the latter, I can send you more, and
shall have great pleasure in doing so, both for your own Cabinet and for
that of our friend, Mr. Searls Wood.
The teeth in marginata were in some of the shells obscure; in others
wanting: but that appears to be the case frequently in that species.
Neither these shells nor umbilicata are numerous in our Pleistocene beds.
Those now sent are all that I have met with at present.
I must beg you to pardon my interrupting you so often. I do it lest
I should forget those species which I have not sent in the first instance,
and my rural affairs claim much of my attention just now, as the Spring
is advancing and prices of our produce is most diminished, the land
must yield all that is possible to make up for the scanty price and to provide
for the tax gatherer. But this is a digression of an unpleasant kind,
which I beg you will excuse. Those considerations shall not divert my
mind from my favourite pursuits
I received a letter from my friend Mr. Hall this morning, stating that
he has been seriously ill, which accounts for my not seeing [him] at
Stanway for some time past.
Stanway, Feb. 14th, 1843.
I shall feel, I hope, all your kindness, and that of Mr. Wood, in acting
as you please with respect to my Paper. I have never experienced any-
thing but kindness from both of you, and I shall leave the whole of the
management to you and that gentleman.
I think your term "Railway beds" will answer every purpose for the
occasion, and is. in my opinion, a good term. But allow me to ask you, do
not you think that the beds in which extinct Mammalia have been found
are more ancient than the "Railway beds," in which the fossils are all
recent? But we will not dispute about terms now; that you have adopted
is good for the purpose.
I think the railway beds lie over the diluvium; at least, that is my
impression at present. But we will look at the section more closely
when you are at Stanway, which I look forward to with high anticipations,
whenever you can find an opportunity.
I have sent your list of shells to the Annals with your name attached,
with a short Memoir.
Stanway, March 24th/43.
In casting my eye over the last list which you so kindly sent me, I find
that you have no specimen of the "slender var." of V. pygmea [sic]. Hav-
ing a few duplicates left, I have put a few into the bottom of the quill for
you, and also one or two specimens of V. pygmea [sic] The latter arc
extremely scarce with me, more so than the former.
The slender variety which you allude to in your list I think yon will
find to be V. alpestris, of Authors. I have also sent you a few of the
sinistral shells, V. pusilla and V. angastior-all I have at present; but
there are more in the bed at Copford, if more are wanted.
I have found in all from these beds eleven species of the genera Pupa
and Vertigo, including two var. of P. marginata.
The Helices baffle me compleatly, in making out the numerous species
which occur here. I should be thankful to you if you could come and
assist me, if it were only for a day or two. Our Rail will be open for
passenger traffic throughout the whole line next week. There is great
difficulty where shells have lost the periostraca, and the specific distinc-
tions are not very striking, to make them out exactly; yet, with the