462 The Ohio Naturalist. [Vol. VI, No. 4, 



NOTE ON LIST OF OHIO MOLLUSCA, AND A SUGGESTION 

 IN REGARD TO LOCAL FAUNAL LISTS. 



V. Sterki. 



A preliminary list of the Land and Fresh Water MoUusca of 

 Ohio has been prepared by the writer and deposited in the 

 Academy library. It is an abstract of a larger hand list, and 

 contains nearly all the species seen froni the State, or recorded, 

 except some of Pleurocera and Gonioleasis which still must be 

 worked up specially. A few species listed must be verified as to 

 actual occurrence in the State, a few others as to exact identifi- 

 cation, and there is no doubt that quite a number of additional 

 ones will be found. 



As stated elsewhere, I believe that "the Mollusca are the 

 truest exponents of the geographical distribution of animals in a 

 given region or district," and also that Ohio is a specially inter- 

 esting territory in that respect. And therefore, a faunal list 

 should not be published before the species, varieties and local 

 forms from all parts of the State are fairly well know-n and their 

 distribution can be shown by tables, charts, etc., approximately 

 accurate, even if it take a few years' more work. Then, and 

 only then, such a publication will be to the credit of the Academy 

 and the State. 



If a part of a research fund could be turned over to the 

 collecting and working up of our Mollusca, for a year or two, it 

 would help considerably, and also might make it possible to 

 work up a special "Ohio Collection" containing the species and 

 local forms from various parts of the State, carefully identified, 

 to be deposited with soine institution, e. g., the Ohio State Uni- 

 versity. 



Local lists, also, might be worked up, of various parts of 

 Ohio, where zoologists are studying the faunas. And in this 

 connection a suggestion may be excused. Such a list, be it of 

 Mollusca, or any other group of animals, or comprehensive, 

 should not be confined to a county, except where the same is 

 bounded by natural lines. Political outlines have nothing to do 

 with the natural features of the county, but go across hills, valleys, 

 rivers, etc. It is better to take up a certain naturally limited 

 territory, a valley, a drainage system, a range or group of mount- 

 ains or hills, regardless of county lines. 



The same might be said of States, to a large extent. ■ Yet, 

 they comprise much larger territories, and for practical and 

 routine reasons, will be considered separately, in general. Ohio 

 is more naturally confined than most other States, and a faunal 

 list of the State means somewhat of a unity. But even then, 

 the lines should not be drawn too strictly. 



