108 THE NAUTILUS. 



Some important changes in nomenclature are noticeable: The 

 genus Pyrena Bolten, 1798 (Gonidea Swain), is adopted for Colum- 

 beUa oviilata,and Nitidella Swains., is given generic standing. Ultimus 

 Bolteri is used generically for Ovula gibbosa. We can hardly agree 

 with the authors in some of the names they still retain in the old 

 family Tritonida, for which they use a new term Septidse. If one 

 name of an author having priority is used, why not use others that 

 can be as readily identified ? If Septa Perry, 1811, can by elimina- 

 tion be used for Triton Montf., why not use Monoplex Perry, instead 

 of Ranularia Schumacher 1817, and Aquillus Montf., 1810, for 

 Lampusia Schum. ? L. cynocephala Lam., certainly belongs to 

 Ranularia rather than Lampusia. The family name Septidce prob- 

 ably deserves adoption, as the genus Septa contains one of the largest 

 and most beautiful shells in the world (Septa tritonis), although it is 

 not perhaps the most typical, nor the oldest genus of the family. 



THE MOLLUSCA OF THE PERSIAN GULF, GULF OF OMAN AND 

 ARABIAN SEA, as evidenced mainly through the collections of Mr. 

 F. W. Townsend, 1893-1900; with descriptions of new species. 

 By James Cosmo Melvill and Robert Standen (Proc. Zool. Soc. of 

 London, 1901, pp. 327-460). Part I. Cephalopoda, Gastropoda 

 and Scaphopoda. 



This valuable and interesting paper adds greatly to our knowledge 

 of the oriental species and their geographical distribution. Upwards 

 of 935 species are recorded, including 77 new species and one new 

 genus (Argyropeza) in the family of Litiopidce. Some families are 

 unusually well represented; of the genus Gonus 41 species are re- 

 corded, while those usually restricted- to the Pkurotomidce number 

 100 species, 20 of which are new; of the 54 species of Nassida, 5 

 are new, and there are also 5 new Mitra out of a total of 43 species. 



As the authors have " endeavored in every case to give the name 

 sanctioned by the laws of priority," we note several changes, 

 although many genera having priority, and now in common use still 

 bear later names: Glyphis Cpr., 1856 = Fissuridea Swains, 1840 ; 

 Mitrularia Schum., 1817 = = Cheilea Modeer, 1793 ; it does not belong 

 to the Hipponycidtz ; Vertagus Schum., 1817 == Clava Marty n, 1789. 

 In adopting Lotorium Montf., for Triton (preoccupied), why retain 

 the family name Tritonidaef For Oyprtea turdus Lam., 1822, the 

 name C. ovata Perry, 1811, is adopted, and for Fusus turricula 

 Kiener, F. forceps Perry. Latrunculus Gray, is used instead of 

 Ji.burna Lam., 1822 not 1801. The work is illustrated by four very 

 finely executed plates containing 87 figures, and is by all odds the 

 most important paper yet published on the faunae of which it treats. 



