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ON THE AUSTRALASIAN GUNDLACHIA, 



By C. Hedley, F.L.S. 



(Plate XXIV.) 



The eccentric shell of Gundlachia, one part shaped like a knife- 

 sheath, or rather a sj)ectacle-case, plastered askew upon another 

 part like the shell of an ordinary fresh-water limpet, the creature's 

 external likeness and internal unlikeness to Ancylus, and the 

 remarkable, discontinuous, geographical distribution of the genus, 

 combine to tempt a naturalist's curiosity. For a chance to satisfy 

 such curiosity I am indebted to several friends who have liberally 

 assisted me with all the material and information at their command, 

 and without whose kindly aid I should have had to relinquish, 

 unprotited, the study of the subject. Prof. Tate has kindly loaned 

 me the actual types of G. jjetterdi and given me examples of that 

 species collected by himself at Mt. Lofty near Adelaide, S. Aus- 

 tralia. Mr. W. F. Petterd has liberally communicated a large 

 series of Gundlachia^ including the actual type of his species G. 

 heddomei. Mr. C. E. Beddome has supplied me with a collection 

 of Gundlachia from various localities. Mr. H. Suter has convinced 

 me of the method by which the primary shell is transformed into 

 the adult by presenting me with a series showing the passage 

 from stage to stage collected by him in New Zealand. To Mr. 

 R. H. Pulleine, of the Adelaide University, who guided me to the 

 spot and procured me several specimens, I am particularly obliged 

 for the pleasure of viewing Gundlachia alive at Henley Beach 

 near Adelaide. 



The genus Gundlachia was instituted by PfeifFer in the Zeits. 

 Malak. vii. 1849, p. 98, for the reception of immature specimens 

 of G. ancyli/ormis, Pfr., sent to him by his correspondent Dr. J. 

 Gundlach from Cardenas in Cuba. Troschel su})plemented his 



