82 THE NAUTILUS. 



was of nearly the same shape in both specie?, but that of 

 "bisci-tnttts" was dark-colored, from horn in the upper part to 

 black at the cutting edge, while the jaw of caroliniensis is of a 

 yellowish or reddish horn. The details of the surface must be 

 compared with more material. The radula, with its anterior 

 (older) end torn off, had 141 (+ . . .) rows of 45 -f C -j- 45 

 teeth of rather the same shape as those of caroliniensis; only the 

 mesodonts of the outer laterals (about 13tb-25th) seemed 

 larger and longer; one of the caroliniensis had 210 rows of 

 54 4- C + 54 teeth. 



As Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell suggested, some of the so-called 

 color variations of P. caroliniensis may prove to be distinct 

 species. This, and their interrelations, and those of variation, 

 or varieties, should be carefully ascertained and also their dis- 

 tribution. It may be mentioned, in this connection, that P. 

 wetherbyi W. G. Binney, originally known from Kentucky, has 

 also been found in northern Michigan, as stated by B. Walker. 



Scientifically it may not be justified to publish these rudi- 

 mentary notes. But there is another reason for doing so. The 

 season is already well advanced. These interesting slugs have 

 been badly neglected, and our knowledge of them is still far 

 from satisfactory. Besides, they are getting more and more 

 scarce in consequence of deforestation of the land, and will dis- 

 appoar in many sections before long, and faster than most other 

 snails. Therefore, every conchologist should pay special atten- 

 tion to anything in this line that can be found. And, to men- 

 tion it again, by the way, the term "shells" is not the proper 

 one to be used in books and catalogues; we should say rnol- 



lusks! 



With respect to the generic name, I agree with W. G. Binney 

 that the forms and species known should be ranged under one 

 genus, whether their jaws be ribbed or not, if there are no other 

 more significant differences. The jaw of the Chippewa slug 

 seems to be really intermediate between the "smooth" and 

 ribbed forms. W. G. Binney rejects the name Philomycus, be- 

 cause Rafinesque did not correctly describe this genus under 

 that name. There is hardly a conchologist who doubts now 

 but that Rafinesque really understood the slugs under consider- 



