42 THE NAUTILUS. 
I never described shells from these localities, but we always must 
bear in mind the fact that N. American shells have never been 
treated in the same way that European. There is in America a 
tendency to restrain the specific forms, and not to admit a shell to 
specific rank before the animal, anatomic features and particularly 
dentition be known. The celebrated American scientist, Mr. W. G. 
Binney, several years since, wrote me about this, concluding that 
“our system may be a good one, but that he wished to be consistent.” 
In Europe, we admit to specific rank whenever a shell offers sufti- 
cient, even slight, but constant characters, should these characters be 
the result of station, food, climate, ete., such circumstances often 
being quite uneasy and generally impossible to determine. 
Besides this, the Eastern States will doubtless afford a number of 
small new species, when the ponds, rivers, ete.—particularly in the 
drifts and alluvions—will be as much thoroughly explored as similar 
places have already been searched for in France, where quite 
unexpected forms of Lartetia, Paladilhia, Moitessieria in still better 
known localities are discovered, and where the mountainous countries 
daily yield an increasing number of Zonitide, Pupida, ete., hitherto 
not discovered by earlier conchologists inhabiting the country. A 
trip in the Pyrenean region in 1884 was very successful in this way, 
and amongst the novelties I then found, I may mention the fine 
Hyalina Anceyi, West., and the Paladilhia-like shell I have alluded 
to. 
NOTE UPON MR. ANCEY’S CRITICISM. 
BY H. Aj PILSBRY. 
Upon reading over my short article, written over a year ago, to 
which the above criticism is a reply, I find that I am prepared to 
stand by every word of it as far as matters of fact are concerned ; 
and I feel confident that increased knowledge in the future will con- 
firm my statements. I regret that it was so written as to seem to Mr. 
Ancey “inconsiderate.” Nothing is more painful than a real or 
fancied violation of those amenities which should characterize all the 
relations between naturalists; and I am glad of this opportunity of 
expressing my esteem for Mr. Ancey, whose work and attainments 
are well known to all conchologists. 
