HAVING collected Japanese land, fresh-water and marine 

 shells for many years, the number of species in my possession 

 has now reached several thousand. Among these are many 

 new species, found by myself and my assistants. In the land 

 shells especially, the new species outnumber those known before 

 my researches began. 



With the aid of numerous assistants 1 have been able to ex- 

 plore many parts of Japan, including the Riukiu (Loo-choo) 

 Islands, and the Ogasawara (or Bonin) group, where a rich 

 fauna of new and strange land shells was found. I hope in 

 future to extend the work, and send collectors to China, Corea 

 and Formosa. 



All the species are sent to Dr. Pilsbry, of Philadelphia, 

 U. S. A., who kindly determines them, so that 1 believe that 

 those receiving specimens from me may place confidence in the 

 names, and will find them an important and useful addition to 

 their collections. 



Attention is called to the importance of securing authentic 

 specimens from the original localities of the many new species in 

 my collections. 



j 



Catalogues of marine and fresh-water shells are in preparation. 

 Specimens will be sent on approval to purchasers known to 



me or giving satisfactory reference. 



Y. HIRASE. 



