IREDALE : LAND MOLLUSCA OF THE KERMADEC ISLANDS. 387 



generally compared and contrasted with those of Norfolk Island, Lord 

 Howe Island, and New Zealand, whilst recent evidence points to its 

 '^reiit distinction. It is unfortunate that tlio land molluscs of Lord 

 Howe Island are unknown as regards the minute forms, and althougli 

 a fairly representative collection was obtained by Macgillivray at 

 Norfolk Island, it remained unexamined until quite recently. It was, 

 liowever, then studied by Sykes (Proc. Malac. Soc, vol. iv, p. 139 seq., 

 1900). who observes : "As pointed out by Professor Tate and others, 

 the I'aunal relationship of Norfolk Island lies rather with New 

 Zealand and Lord Howe Island than with the Australian Continent." 

 This conclusion is so contrary to the nature of the molluscs recorded 

 by Sykes, that it is cjuite impossible to explain it. To take Sykes' 

 own generic dispositions, he admitted fourteen genera, including 

 twenty-six species, and of these fourteen only five have been recorded 

 from New Zealand. Of tliese five one is the Polynesian Midodotita ; the 

 second is Charopa, to which the Norfolk Island species are questionably 

 referred and wliich is also Polynesian ; the third and fourth, Omphalo- 

 tropis and Diplominatina, which are typically Polynesian, have only 

 one representative each in the north of New Zealand, the latter a very 

 doubtful record ; this leaves the fifth, Carth(^a, which is an endemic 

 New Zealand genus, but here the Norfolk Island shell does not seem 

 correctly placed. What a hindrance to the zoogeographer must prove 

 such an erroneous statement as that put forward by Sykes is only 

 known to those interested ! It would be quoted by many not 

 conversant with molluscs, and who would depend upon Sykes' 

 reputation as a conchologist for the correctness of his conclusions. 



I have fortunately been able to examine a large quantity of material 

 from Norfolk Island, and its extraordinary distinction from New 

 Zealand forms is so markedly noticeable as to cause much wonderment 

 as to its origin. Its distinction from that of the Kermadec Island 

 is only emphasized by the finding of a species on each group closely 

 allied. The genus Fanulum, which I have introduced for Trochonanina 

 exposita, Mousson, apparently includes Medyla mscnlpta, Mousson, 

 and JA. imitatrix, Sykes, as well as a third undescribed species, all 

 from Norfolk Island. Mr. Gude, however, who suggested the name 

 and pointed out the differences between this genus and IMyla would 

 include in its limits Thaiii, Homb. & Jacq., from the Solomon Islands and 

 redangula from the Marquesas. This at once discounts the affinity of 

 the Kermadec with the Norfolk Island forms of the genus. As noted 

 above, no minute forms are yet known from Lord Howe Island, but 

 the general aspect of that molluscan faunula is just as distinct from that 

 of Norfolk Island as the New Zealand one has been sliown to be. As 

 Hedley pointed out, the Lord Howe land Mollusca show most affinity 

 with those of New Caledonia, the presence of Placostylus being most 

 suggestive. 



Now, the Kermadec faunula is characterized by the entire lack of 

 any molluscs of appreciable size, whereas such do commonly occur in 

 New Zealand (as Placostj/lus, Paryphanta, Rhytida, etc.). Lord Howe 

 Island (as JVanina, Placostylm, etc.), and Norfolk Island (as Fretum, 

 Rotula, etc.). It is conceded that Lord Howe Island has a relationship 



