152 XEROPHILA VIRGATA. 
In Italy, H. variabilis is recorded from Post-Pliocene Travertin at Colle, 
Staggia, and Chiusdino near Siena in Tuscany by Dr. Pantanelli. 
In Algeria, Y. variabilis is recorded by M. Bourguignat as fossil about Calle, 
also at Cap de Garde, near Bone, and on the island of Rachgoum at the mouth of 
the river Tafna. 
ENGLAND. 
HoLocENE.—In West Cornwall, it is recorded by Rev. R. A. Bullen from the 
stratified sand at a depth of 4-7 feet below the lacustral deposit at Perranzabuloe. 
Collected in blown sand on Towan Head by Kennard and Warren ; from Riviere 
Towan near Camborne, and also from an ancient kitehen-midden, with broken 
marine-shells, in an old gravel-pit, at Hayle, by Mr. Johnson; while Mr. W. D. 
Roebuck found it abundantly in the cliffs west of Lizard Point. 
In North Devon, the var. submaritima of Jeffreys was found in the raised beach 
at Taunton by F. J. Partridge. 
In North Somerset, it has been found by Mr. Swanton in a holocene deposit 
on Brean Down, Weston-super-Mare. ‘ 
In Dorset, it has been found in the ejecta of mole-hills and rabbit-warrens on 
downs above Durdle Barndoor and behind Swyre-head by Rev. R. Ashington Bullen. 
In North Wilts., the type form and var. a/bicans found in superficial deposits 
at Avebury by Mr. H. St. George Gray. 
In East Sussex, it has been found in a Neolithic hill-wash, Brighton, by Mr. 
Johnson ; and by Rey. S. Spencer Pearce in a holocene deposit at Cow-Gap Cliff, 
Beachy Head, Eastbourne. 
In the Isle of Wight, it was found in suberial beds, and in a Neolithie rain- 
wash at St. Catherine’s Down by Bristow and Kennard and Warren. 
In East Kent, it has been collected from a deposit overlying the rubble-drift at 
Barton Court, Buckland, Dover, by the Rev. R. Ashington Bullen. 
In Lincoln North, it was found at Greetwell in 1906 by Mr. J. F. Musham. 
In South-west Yorkshire, it was discovered by Dr. Corbett in the deposit of 
lacustrine marl at Askern near Doncaster. 
q IRELAND. 
In West Galway, it was found in the ‘‘ black band” of the celebrated deposit at 
Dogs’ Bay, Roundstone, by Mr. R. D. Darbishire. 
FOREIGN DISTRIBUTION. 
In Spain, the Rey. RK. Ashington Bullen records from the Island of Majorea, 
Helix variabilis and var. maritima from a hill-wash at Porto Pi near Palma ; and 
the var. maritima in coast deposits at Aleudia. 
The same author also records Helix virgata and var. maritima in a deposit near 
the railway bridge at Manresa near Barcelona, Catalonia. 
In Algeria, X. variabibis is recorded by M. Bourguignat from the recent lime- 
stones at Fouka, and about ‘* Fort de ?EKau” near Alger, as well as in the modern 
deposits near Koléa and Tipaza. 
Variation.—More than 150 varieties of this species are catalogued, 
but amongst these, there are certainly many exact duplications or synonyms 
and numerous others which are approximately identical, but authentically 
named specimens are difficult to obtain. 
Many scientists who cultivate the study of the Xerophiles in France 
regard as species numerous shells which exhibit far less differences than 
British conchologists consider necessary to entitle them to specific status, 
and, furthermore, the structural peculiarities of the animal, if any, are in 
the majority of cases, quite unknown and disregarded. 
The most satisfactory method to adopt in this group until structural 
differences have been demonstrated, would be to regard very closely 
related shells as simple varieties of the older forms around which they 
cluster ; this course would keep prominent the relationship, while empha- 
sizing the differences, when these are not in themselves sufficiently striking 
to absolutely warrant elevation to specific rank, - 
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