39 



ON THE LAND SHELLS OF TASMANIA, 

 By W. Legrand. 



When Woodward classed the Terrestrial Mollusks of Tas- 

 mania, with those of Australia, south of the tropic, but little 

 was known of them. At the time he wrote the number of 

 described species of Helix was six, two of which have since 

 proved to be identical, and two others doubtfully Tasmanian, 

 thus reducing the number to three. 



Since that time much work has been done, the number now 

 described numbering over fifty. Tasmania has a fauna pecu- 

 liar to herself, more nearly related to that of the Northern 

 Island of New Zealand than Australia. Take the section 

 Videna, Australia proper does not possess a single species, 

 while Tasmania has five, Sinclairi, Hamiltoni, Launcestonen- 

 sis, dubitans, and a new species lately discovered by Mr. 

 Gould, at the Leven, proposed to be named DuGani (next to 

 Launcestonensis, the largest Helix yet found here.) If 

 the doubtful species bisulcata be admitted, the number is six. 

 New Zealand has two — Dunnise and Greenwoodi. This is 

 peculiarly an island section, the greater number being from 

 the Solomon's. Our number is nearly equal to those from all 

 other places together. 



The nearest we have to the great New Zealand Busbyi 

 (except with Albers we admit Vitrina Milligani, a classifica- 

 tion which must have been made from the shell alone, the 

 animal being essentially different) is fulgetrum. A shell 

 found at Eingarooma, named by Brazier, Kingi comes very 

 near. Victoria has one belonging to the same section — Helix 

 atramentaria — which comes between, and is the largest land- 

 shell yet found in that province. 



New Zealand has several of the section Conulus. We have 

 one, H. parvissima. Cox, which comes very near that, or such 

 shells as H. alpha and beta, Pfr. Of the sections Discus. 

 Patula and Hyalina, we have about the same proportionate 

 number as New Zealand and Australia, and of the section 

 Hemiplecta we have one, possibly two. This is also an island 

 shell. Like New Zealand, the greater part of our Helices are 

 minute. 



Of the section represented by Allporti, Cox, there are six or 

 eight species. For beauty of colouring must be noticed 

 Tasmanise, fulgetrum, Juliformis, Nelsonensis, and ruga ; for 

 peculiarity of form parvissima may be mentioned ; and for 

 beauty of shape Stephensi and Kingstonensis must not be 

 passed by. 



One very fine shell (H. Davcyciisis), the largest yet found 



