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SOME PISIDIA FROM THE TARNS OF THE GALTEE MOUNTAINS, CO. TIPPERARY SOUTH.

By C. W. STELFOX.

THERE are four corries on the northern slope of the Galtees in which nestle five moraine-dammed tarns of varying size. These tarns lie at altitudes of from 1,600 to 1,900 feet. Several of the tarns have no proper outlet, and consequently the water level varies considerably according the the rainfall. In September, 1943, all the tarns were so full that I was unable to reach any habitat for Pisidia, while in 1944 (May-June) the level of all was much below the mean level and some of the beds of mud were well above water level. Taking the tarns in order from west to east I failed to find any in Lough Curra, though I have no doubt they occur beyond the reach of a scoop. L. Diheen yielded six specimens of a small rather starved form of P. cinereum (casertanum), with quite thick shells. These came from a stiff, red, cheesy mud, on the southern shore of the tarn, quite 10 feet below the water level of September, 1943. L. Borheen yielded four specimens of a corresponding form of P. nitidum, almost thick enough to be regarded as a form of var. crassa. From the largest of the tarns, Muskry L., I only succeeded after a long search in obtaining two specimens, one each of P. nitidum and P. subtruncatum, both with rather thick shells. The fifth-a small shallow tarn, separated from Muskry L. by an inner moraine, and at a slightly higher altitude, was the only one in which Pisidia were plentiful (i.e. within my reach). Here I took many specimens in a few minutes of two species, P. nitidum and P. hibernicum, in about equal numbers, but with rather thinner shells than those from the other tarns.