THE NAUTILUS. 9o 



on the Pacific Islands, where they are free from the competition <jf 

 highly organized types of Helix, which have driven them fi'om the 

 Tropics and North Temperate regions. In the north the species 

 are comparatively few in numbers, and live mainly in the colder 

 latitudes, where more recent types of Helix do not flourish, or in 

 "some cases they have become reduced in size as in the sections 

 Helicocliscus, Pyramidala s. str., Planogyra, Patalastra, etc., acquir- 

 ing the habits of the Pupa; with which they compete, and in many 

 cases the Papa type of dentition also. 



The name Pyramidula Fitz. 1833, has been preferred to that of 

 Patula Held. 1837, for the Eur-American group to which H. roiun- 

 data and alternata belong, on the ground of prior publication, and 

 because two other names for the group were proposed in 1837, either 

 of which has as much claim to be accepted as Patula. There are 

 moreover, still two more names antedating Patula, besides the ear- 

 liest name, Pyramidula. This change is therefore inevitable. 



The figures were mostly drawn by the author. They illustrate 

 prominent typical species of all the subgenera and sections; so that 

 it is comparatively easy for a person unacquainted with the intrica- 

 cies of Helix classification to refer any specimen to its appropriate 

 group, whether it be a living or fossil form. 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



In a recent letter from Miss Ida ]M. Shepard, she says : " We 

 have formed wdiat we call the Los Angeles Conchological 

 Club, for the study of our local shells, and hope to take up the 

 west coast species generally later. We have eleven members, and 

 meet once or twice a month." We heartily endorse this new organ- 

 ization for the study of the molluscn, and wish the club a success- 

 ful future.— C. W.J. 



Species Determined. — From M. M. Schepman, Rhon near 

 Rotterdam, Holland, 1. Sistruvi nodutomm C. B. Ads.; 2. Blttium 

 sp. ; 3. Carditamera gracilis Shuttl. ; 4, 5. Acmaea cubensis Reeve ; 

 6. Acmaea leucopleiira Gmel. ; 7. Donax fossor Say; 8. Heterodonox 

 himaculatus, L. ; 9. Litiopa bombyx Kien. ; 10, 11. Mytibis fxv.^tiis 

 Linn.— C. W. J. 



