[page] 743

In replying the queries of "C. D" (see p. 726), I cannot perhaps do better than take them separately in the order in which they stand:

1. "Were any of the shells living?"

Yes, many that came under my observation were alive. And it may be interesting to add, that a lady connected with the establishment at Osborne having collected a number of the shells, placed them upon a Cabbage leaf, over which she inverted a large tumbler glass; the tiny creatures soon gave unmistakable signs of their vitality by their voracity.

2. "Over how wide an area did they fall?"

I cannot tell the exact space over which they fell. I may state, however, that it extended at least over 400 square yards of surface.

3. "During how long a time are they believed to have fallen?"

To this question I can give no satisfactory answer. I was not on the spot at the time when they fell. Nor was I acquainted with so singular and interesting a fact as a shower of shells until my attention was drawn to it by Miss Skerrett, of her Majesty's household, some time after. Owing to what I gleaned from that lady I became concerned to know more about them, but the answers to my inquiries were so vague and, unsatisfactory as to be of no particular value.

4. "At what hour and on what day?"

I cannot learn from any source the hour they are supposed to have fallen. They were observed as early as 8 or 9 o'clock in the morning. The day, to the best of my recollection, was Oct. 1 Monday unfortunately I made no memorandum thereof. There had been very heavy storms flying about for several days. The storm, however, which in all probability took up, hurled forward, and so unceremoniously scattered the numerous little shells over the court-yard and along the pavement of the palace at Osborne, was doubtless the one which broke over here early in the morning of the above-named day, as early as 5 or 6 o'clock.

5. "Did only one king of shell fall?"

The specimens I have are all identical. A friend of mine, however, told me to-day there were two kinds of shells, of the truth of which I have had as yet no ocular demonstration.

I am sorry I cannot give "C. D." more definite l information regarding the shells at present;- I may learn something more respecting them when the Court returns to Osborne. The foregoing statements I hope will prove so far satisfactory to "C. D." as to induce him to venture a probability as to the locality in which the storm might have found them. If "C. D." would like a few of the little Zua shells, I shall be happy to forward some to his address, if sent. I have no living shells.

C. Winchester, Osborne.