1893. NOTES AND COMMENTS. 249 



fied us that it is of great importance that the miHtary and naval 

 authorities should be furnished with accurate information respecting 

 the position of the favourite fishing grounds in the localities where 

 target practice is carried on, and of the times of tide and seasons when 

 fishermen in the neighbourhood are ordinarily engaged upon parti- 

 cular grounds, and of the character of the pursuits followed. And 

 of the gear used by fishermen at different times of the year in fishing 

 for various kinds of fish." Mr. Calderwood has furnished to the 

 Committee, who have reproduced it in their Report, a map showing 

 the localities for special fish off Plymouth during the month of April. 

 Of course, these localities vary from week to week, and it would be 

 desirable, and no doubt important, if a large series of such sketch- 

 maps could be published. The evidence offered as to the effect of 

 the electric light in attracting or frightening fish is conflicting, and 

 the same may be said of the noise of the firing of heavy guns. 

 We note that the index shows a great improvement on the general 

 run of indexes to Blue Books, it is really a useful precis of the whole 

 Report. 



Tertiary Mollusca of Florida. 



We have received from Mr. W. H. Dall the second part of his 

 " Tertiary Mollusks of Florida " {Trans, of the Wagner Free Institute of 

 Science, vol. iii., pp. 201-474). This part completes the account of 

 the Gasteropoda, and places in our hands, at last, better materials 

 for the study of former zoological provinces. No group of Tertiary 

 fossils has been so well examined in many different parts of the world 

 as the Gasteropods, and by a careful comparison of the different 

 monographs that have lately appeared, we ought to be able to obtain 

 information as to the former continuity or isolation of the different 

 areas. An account of the Tertiary marine gasteropods of the Pacific 

 slope of iVmerica is still wanted. Until they have been examined, it 

 will be difficult to speak with confidence as to the dates of submer- 

 gence of the isthmus of Panama, and we also cannot deal with the 

 possible diversion of the Gulf Stream at diff'erent epochs, and its 

 effect on the climate of Western Europe. 



Tertiary Mollusca of Piedmont. 



We are glad also to observe that the splendid monograph on the 

 Tertiary Mollusca of Piedmont, left unfinished on the death of 

 Professor Bellardi, is steadily progressing under the hands of 

 Professor Sacco, of Turin. Another part has lately appeared, and we 

 may expect before long to see the completion of the gasteropods. The 

 Tertiary molluscan fauna of Italy is so prolific, that the monographing 

 of those found even in a single region is a herculanean task. We hope 

 that Professor Sacco will receive sufficient encouragement and 



