MARINE MOLLUSGA. 599 
It has been noticed in other groups of animals that the specimens collected at the 
Maldives have a tendency to be smaller than those found upon the shores of the mainland 
and Ceylon. This peculiarity also to a certain extent is noticeable among the Mollusca, or, 
at all events, the representatives of many species are small in comparison with the larger 
dimensions they often attain. 
No attempt has been made to give full synonymy or many references to illustrations, 
but it has been thought advisable, in each case, to quote a figure or a description, so as 
to show what species was really referred to. This is necessary in some instances where an 
author's species has been differently interpreted by his successors, as, for example, in the 
case of Strombus auris-dianae of Linné, where Reeve’s and Deshayes’ view of this species 
is quite the reverse of that held by Sowerby. 
In the account of the numerous species hereafter mentioned the localities where they 
were obtained are referred to under numbers only which are explained in the following list 
of stations. 
I. Addu Atoll, 5—40 fathoms 
II. Suvadiva Atoll, 5—44 3 
Ill. Haddumati Atoll, 38—40 $ 
IV. Kolumadulu Atoll, 1—40 a 
Ve S. Nilandu Atoll, 1— 36 z 
VI. Mulaku Atoll, 1—40 é. 
VII. Felidu Atoll, 1—35 5; 
VIII. S. Male Atoll, 30) a 
IX.  MHulule Island, 1—6 es 
X. N. Male Atoll, 1—35 7 
XI.  Goidu Island, On reef 
XII. Mahlos Atoll, 4—24, Bs 
XII. Fadifolu Atoll, 2—23 : 
XIV. Miladumadulu Atoll, 3—28 
XV. Mainikoi, On reef and 5—7 fathoms. 
[The editor regrets that the dimensions of the whole work on the Fauna of the Maldives 
and Laccadives have made it necessary to follow the method adopted by many publications 
in placing the list of literature at the end with reference numbers to the same in heavy 
black type, and more especially since Mr Smith had most carefully prepared his manuscript 
with the references in full under each species. He also deeply regrets that the special 
geographical distribution given, in the manuscript, with each form, and which entailed 
considerable research into conchological literature, has, for the same reason, had to be omitted. 
Roman numerals in italics refer to the volume of the work quoted. Ep.] 
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