BY C. HEDLEY. 69 



Australian Museums respectively. To Mr. Brazier I am particu- 

 larly obliged for much information, assistance in determining 

 species, and for the loan of notes, papers, and specimens. 



The land shells of the province exhibit four rather distinct 

 geographical divisions : — 



(a) The alpine fauna, whose sole known member is Rhytida 

 ylobosa. Judging from the flora of these altitudes, as studied by 

 Baron von Mueller (Trans. Roy. Soc. Vic. i. pt. 2, p. 1), the 

 mollusca will probably exhibit affinities with those of Tasmania or 

 Victoria. Cystopelta and Paryphanta are forms whose discovery 

 may be anticipated. 



(b) Secondly, that region lying between Port Moresby and the 

 Fly River. Typical of this area are Hadra broadbenti, Geotroclius 

 taylorianus, and Helicina coxeni. From this fauna the tropical 

 mollusca of Queensland were perhaps derived, the colonists 

 migrating across the dry bed of Torres Straits. Proceeding along 

 the coast eastwards from Hula and Aroma to Orangerie Bay, we 

 pass through a district quite unknown. 



(c) A third province commences at South Cape Island in the 

 west and includes all the eastern extremity of New Guinea with 

 the outiying islands of Loggia, Samarai, Sarabai, Seidea, and 

 Basilaki, or as they were formerly called Heath, Dinner, Hayter, 

 Basilisk, and Moresby. I believe that the north-east coast will 

 fall within this province whose typical members are Hadra rehsei, 

 Nanina Jmnsteini, and Geotrochus brmneriensis. 



(d) The fourth fauna inhabits the Louisiade, the Dentie- 

 casteaux,* the Trobriand, and the Woodlark Archipelagos. Charac- 

 teristic forms are the Geotrochi allied to louisiadensis, and the 

 gigantic Pupinellse allied to grandis. Of some species, Nanina 

 divisa, Chloritis leei, and Helicina insularum for example, each 

 island appears to possess a form, generally a variation peculiar to 

 it. Many species have, through the blunders of unscientific 

 collectors, been ascribed to the Dentrecasteaux Islands. I have 



* The spelling of this name here adopted is not the version usually 

 accepted but that of the official account of Dentrecasteaux's Voyages. 



