68 The Ottawa Naturalist. [ July 



main, as is proper, on anatomical characteristics. The meager 

 descriptions of the earlier authors are amplified in many cases 

 from a study of the types. In fact the type specimens were 

 studied in all the cases in which they were accessible. Distinc- 

 tions are clearly pointed out between forms which have hitherto 

 been confounded; new species, as well as old, are accurately 

 described and defined, and the exact geographic and geologic 

 distribution of each carefully indicated. In the extended 

 bibliographies which are given of every species and variety, 

 mention is frequently made of the papers on conchology which 

 appeared in the Transactions of the Club, The Ottawa Nat- 

 uralist, and the American Naturalist, from the pens of 

 members of the Club, and the work of Heron, Taylor, Macoun, 

 and others is often spoken of with appreciation. It may be 

 said without exaggeration that Mr. Baker's volume is the most 

 elaborate and satisfactory monograph on the Lymnaiidae ever 

 published. 



In Mr. Baker's monograph on Lymnsea, the L. decollata 

 of our lists is classed under Galba oronensis, Baker. This de- 

 termination is based, apparently, on shells collected by Heron. 

 The shell found in the Little Chaudiere Rapids which also has 

 been regarded as decollata, is considered by Mr. Baker to be a 

 depauperate form of Galba catascopium, Say. This has long 

 been my own conclusion, though Trvon thought otherwise. The 

 Philadelphia conchologist was, however, not always accurate in 

 his determination of Lvmnaeas. L. lepida, Gould, andL. lanceata 

 Gould, placed in our list upon his authority should be dropped, 

 at least until authentic specimens if any exist here are found. 



Our L. stagnalis is not thought by Mr. Baker to be typical 

 of the species, but as belonging properly to the variety appressa. 

 This he divides into several sub-varieties. It would be of interest 

 to represent on one plate the many varieties of L. stagnalis 

 appressa, which occur near Ottawa, from the small form with a 

 red lip band found only in Portage Bay on the Hull side of the 

 Ottawa below Tetreauville to the monstrosities of the Rideau 

 River, or the exquisite shells to be had on any day in late summer 

 in the pond north of the Driveway where it diverges from 

 Bank Street. 



L. 



The Editor would be grateful for short notes for publica- 

 tion from any member of the Club. Original observations are 

 always of interest to our readers, whether they relate to plants 

 or animals. 



