APPENDIX. S6l 



Heuce every note on tlie habitat and mode of life of 

 marine creatures from tlie southern hemisphere becomes 

 of no small value. Indeed, there is no information more 

 desirable at this time for the illustration of geological 

 phenomena, than such as may throw light on the distri- 

 bu.tion in range and depth of the creatures inhabiting the 

 seas of the Tropics, and those living around the coasts of 

 Australia and New Zealand. The following notes will 

 serve to record the more prominent facts bearing upon the 

 Bathymetrical distribution of the Testacea collected on 

 the northern coast of Australia, at Port Essington, and on 

 the eastern coast from Cape York to Bass' Strait, 

 including the northern ports of Van Diemen's Land. 



It may here be remarked that the MoUuscan fauna of 

 the seas of North Australia and of the north-east coast 

 from Cape York southwards to Sandy Cape, belongs to 

 the great Indo-Pacific province, a zoological region 

 extending from the east coast of Africa (from Port Natal 

 or a little above, northwards to Suez) to Easter Island in 

 the Pacific. But south of Sandy Cape and onwards to 

 Van Diemen's Land (and apparently including New 

 Zealand), we have a distinct (East) AustraKan province, 

 marked by a peculiar fauna in many respects, representa- 

 tive of the Senegal, and perhaps also Lusitanian regions 

 of the North Atlantic. 



Proceeding in descending order we may first remark on 

 the 



Shells of Salt Marshes. As in the Northern hemisphere, 

 Melampiis or Conovulm is the genus represented in such 

 localities. Thus "Auricula Australis" prevails in. salt 

 marshes at Brisbane Water, and an allied species in 

 similar places in New Zealand. In both instances 



the Falkland Isles. The Radiata were gathered with as much care and tlieir 

 habitats recorded with as much attention as the MoUusca. 



