68 THE LAND MOLLUSCAN FAUNA OF BRITISH NEW GUINEA, 



collection was made by Sir W. Macgregor's party in the Louisiades ; 

 this was presented to the British Museum and was also described 

 by Smith. 



British New Guinea comprises the south-eastern quarter of 

 Papua with the adjacent reefs and islands, except those falling 

 within the Queensland boundary, between the meridians of 141° 

 and 155° of E. longitude, and the parallels of 8° and 12° of S. 

 latitude. Though these political boundaries do not form the 

 natural limits of the fauna, it will be more convenient to restrict 

 ourselves to the consideration of the mollusca of the British 

 province. For while the collections made in foreign colonies are 

 described by foreign writers in a foreign language, and the types 

 deposited in more or less inaccessible museums, the specimens 

 obtained in the British area are naturally referred to British or 

 Australian naturalists. Information regarding this fauna is so 

 scattered through various publications that I believe that I have 

 consulted the convenience of future inquirers by adding to the 

 results of my own researches a summary of the labours of my 

 predecessors. 



For an opportunity of investigating this interesting region T am 

 indebted to Sir William Macgregor, M.D., K.C.M.G., Adminis- 

 trator of British New Guinea, whose guest I was from May to 

 August, 1890, and under whose auspices I was enabled to visit 

 the St. Joseph River,* Milne Bay, &c. I take this occasion to 

 record my thanks both to his Honor and to the gentlemen of his 

 staff who so often and so kindly assisted me in my scientific 

 pursuits. 



Part of the material dealt with in this communication I collected 

 personally, part was spoil of the Fly River expedition of the 

 previous year, part was obtained for me under the directions of 

 Sir William by Messrs. Kowald and Belford in the Louisiade, 

 Trobriand, and Woodlark Archipelagos, and for part I am 

 indebted to Messrs. Masters and Brazier, of the Macleay and 



* Only the latest maps show the St. Joseph River, which rises under Mt. 

 Yule and flows into Hall Sound. 



