590 NOMENCLATURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS PYTHIA, 



described in 1774 by 0. F. Midler as Helix Pythia, in his Historia 

 Vermium. In 1798 Bolton described it as Pythia Helicina, and in 

 1810 Montford described this same species as Sarabus Imbrium. 

 In 1822, Lamarck described it as Auricula Scarabceus. in his 

 Historie des Animaux sans Vertebres, and subsequently in 1837 

 Beck described it as Polydonta Listoriana. Each of these generic 

 names in its turn have been used by Monographers to place this 

 and other species of the genus under, but it is evident from tlie 

 dates given that the name Pythia has priority, still some able 

 conchologists think differently and up to a very recent date species 

 of this genus continue to be described as Scarabus. In the 

 beautifully illustrated Monograph of this genus by the late Lovel 

 Reeve, the species are all described as Scarabus. This liberty on 

 the part of authors is much to be regretted as it adds consider- 

 ably to the trouble of Nomenclature, which every year it is felt 

 more and more necessary to give in full in writing on any genus 

 or species. 



Of the fifty-two species of which I have recorded the nomen- 

 clature and distribution, it will be found that all are strictly tropical 

 and none of them are found on the shores or on islands 

 washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Their true position is very 

 limited, and ranges from between 25° North Latitude and 25° 

 South Latitude and 80° East Longitude and 130° West Longitude. 

 Commencing from Ceylon in about 80° East Longitude, where 

 we find two species, we have to travel east to find the homes of 

 this peculiar genus, no species has been recorded as coming from 

 Madagascar, Mauritius or the East Coast of Africa ; two or three 

 species are found in China, much farther North than Ceylon, 

 others again on the Southern shores of India and several at the 

 Philippine Isles ; step by step we trace them from the Malay 

 Peninsular to Sumatra, Borneo, Celebes, and through the groups 

 of small Islands to the Caroline Islands northwards, to the 

 Southern shores of New Guinea and probably on the Northern 

 shores also if they were looked for ; recent researches have traced 



