62 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE MAXACOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



conspicuous among the more important "results" which interest us. 

 Of Spinda 1 have spoken. The report on the Cephalopoda strikes 

 me as second to none in its thoroughness, and it is much to be regretted 

 that its indefatigable author had not better and more extensive 

 material at his disposal. It may be questioned whether the best was 

 made of the existing methods of preservation on this memorable 

 voyage ; but, allowing for shortcomings which, now as always, become 

 evident only when it is too late, the net result has been a monumental 

 work which must form the basis for all future operations, and for 

 this the world stands gratefully indebted to England's great naval 

 authorities, who have here shown themselves as ready to respond to 

 the call of scientific as of territorial warfare. 



I question whether any zoological discovery of the "Challenger" 

 will yield in importance to that of the anomalous CepliahcUsciis ; 

 and if we are justified in embracing the study of the Brachiopoda 

 within the scope of our Proceedings as members of a Malacological 

 Society, I offer you no apology for claiming this remarkable animal as 

 one which specially affects our interests. Permit me, however, to 

 digress here, and raise the question whether we should not do well 

 to reconsider the limitations of our Society ; for if we are to claim 

 the Brachiopoda as our own, the Bryozoa must follow, and if these, 

 why not that zoologists' waste-paper basket tlie entire so-called 

 " Class Vermes." To retain the Brachiopoda within our sphere of 

 action, because they happen to be the bearers of a bivalved exo- 

 skeleton, now that Malacology stands upon a scientific basis and aims 

 at something more and higher than the mei'e cataloguing of cabinets 

 of shells, is unscientific, and certainly not calculated to advance our 

 best interests. 



With the closing in of the " Challenger " work, there has come the 

 full light of that of subsequent expeditions, notably the "Albatross" 

 and "Investigator." Malacologists are now in possession of reports 

 upon the Heteropoda, Opisthobranchiata, and Pteropoda of the former ; 

 and the discovery of an animal so remarkable and unexpected as the 

 free-swimming Holothurian Pelagotlmria furnishes a result which to ' 

 the reflective mind renders the achievements of the "Albatross" 

 expedition not a whit less impressive than those of the " Challenger." ' 

 Our American confreres, benefiting by our experience, have made 

 the most of modern metliods, and have furnished us with coloured ' 

 drawings of the more important novelties, made from life. In their ; 

 hands, and in those of persons whom they have called to their aid, i 

 there is accruing a result which will materially extend the world's [ 

 knowledge along natural lines of growth. i 



As for the "Investigator," under Dr. A. Alcock results of the |j 

 highest importance continue to accumulate. I hold experts' authority ' 

 for the assertion that the versatility and reliability of Dr. Alcock's \ 

 work is of an altogether exceptional order. Of his i-esearches among 

 the Fishes I can speak from experience. The malacological fruits of 

 the expedition, imder the care of our Yice-President Mr. Edgar Smith, ' 

 are especially noteworthy for the discovery of a new and remarkable 

 Gastropod genus (^Pontiothamna), the systematic position of which has 



