NTR ORC ron: 
THE present catalogue will be found a great improvement on the last, 
both in completeness and in accuracy of nomenclature. This is owing 
partly to the publication of Dr. v. Marten’s “ critical list,” and of the 
Mollusca of the Voyage of the Erebus and Terror ; and partly to the 
improvements that have taken place in the Libraries and Museums 
in New Zealand during the last six years. It must still, however, be 
regarded as only a precursor of a monograph. 
More than sixty species are now catalogued for the first time, and 
probably but few omissions will be found. Many of the species 
however here recorded will, no doubt, prove to be identical, while many 
others will be shewn to have been put down to New Zealand by 
mistake. Not much dependence can be placed on the localities in Mr. 
Cuming’s collection, and some of those of Mr. Strange appear to me 
very doubtful. I have, however, thought it better, as books of reference 
are scarce, to give the original description in nearly every case, so that 
others, as well as myself, may form an opinion as to what should be 
regarded as synonymous, and what species should be struck out of the 
list. 
No doubt the catalogue will want a great deal of revising in the 
generic names attached to the species. Hardly any of the animals have 
been examined, while it is often impossible to feel sure of the systematic 
position of a shell without a knowledge of the animal. Most of these 
observations can only be made upon the living animal, and as the 
Molluscan fauna of New Zealand differs very much in different localities, 
the correct systematic position of a large proportion of our shells can 
only be attained by the united efforts of many observers. To assist in 
this part of the work I have given, in the description of families and the 
genera, an account of the external characters of the animals belonging 
to them. These descriptions are taken almost entirely from Adam’s 
“Genera of Mollusca,” 1858; but the families have been grouped 
together on a more modern system. 
A 
