48 THE NAUTILUS. 



L. Germain, prdparateur au Museum d'Histoire naturelle et a 

 1'Institut Oedanographique. 2 vols. in 18vo, 800 pages, with 67 

 plates containing 707 figures. 1 



The first volume, treating of the Amphineura and Opisthobranchs, 

 is from the pen of Professor Vayssi&re, than whom no more compe- 

 tent authority could be found, the Opisthobranchs having occupied 

 the author for many years. This connected account of the European 

 species, in which the results of the most recent studies are presented 

 in condensed form, will be a valuable reference book for classification 

 and synonymy as well as a guide to identification. 



The second volume contains an account of the land and fluviatile 

 gastropod mollusks, by M. Louis Germain, who treats the subject in 

 a broad spirit, relegating to synonymy many of the so-called species 

 contained in the works of Locard and other writers of the species- 

 splitting school. The work will doubtless be very useful in Europe, 

 and also to conchologists elsewhere who have occasion to refer to 

 European species. The figures, while characteristic, are coarse and 

 crudely executed, and by no means equal to the other qualities of the 

 work. The price is very moderate, 10 francs for the two volumes. 

 H. A. P. 



DIAGNOSES OF NEW SHELLS FROM THE PACIFIC OCEAN. By 

 William Healey Ball. Proc. U. S. Nat, Mus., Vol. 45, pp. 587- 

 i97. Twenty-two new species from both shores of the Pacific are 

 described, and one new genus, Halicardissa, type Verticordia per- 

 plicata Dall, from near the Galapagos Is. 



NEW LAND SHELLS FROM THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. By Paul 

 Bartsch. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 45. Obba worcesteri and 

 Cochlostyla olanivanensts, from Olanivan I., &nd\Cochlostyla calusa- 

 /mV, from Calusa I., are land shells from small and rarely visite<l 

 islands. 



NOTES. 



The ninety-third anniversary of the birthday of the Rev. Joseph 

 Rowell was celebrated by a luncheon on April 20th. Many inter- 

 esting speeches recalled events in the long career of Mr. Rowell as 

 pastor of the Mariners' Church in San Francisco tor 55 years. Two 

 generations of conchologists have known Mr. Rowell as a naturalist. 

 The day was concluded with a dinner and family reunion. 



1 Forming part of the " Encyclopedic Scientifique," issued by 0. Doin et Fils, 

 8 Place de Od&rn, Paris. 



