182 CURRENT LITERATURE. 



Pruvot, ftmenia, Pruvot, Lepidomenia, Kowalevsky et Marion, form the twelve 

 genera in which the twenty-six species are arranged. The very tentative nature 

 of this method is fully realised by Dr. Simroth, but it can hardly be said to give 

 satisfaction, or to render much clearer the mutual relations of these interesting 

 forms. That they form "the tips of a large number of widely divergent branches" 

 is a conclusion, warranted by the character of the genera, in which we agree with 

 Dr. Simroth. The nature of the connections of these branches is the work of the 

 future. 



The last two pages are devoted to a discussion of the habitat and mode of life 

 of the Neomeniidre, and the bearing of these considerations on the relationship 

 with the Chitonidse. Dr. Simroth concludes that the Neomeniida: are derived 

 from litoral Chitonida; which have descended beyond the influence of wave- 

 motion. The absence of dorsal plates in the adult, the form of the foot, of the 

 radula, and the straight short intestine, are explicable on this hypothesis. — 

 F. W. G. 



Stearns, R. E. C. — New species of jVassa from the Gulf of California. Naut., 

 vii., 1893, p. 10. 



Sterki, V. Some Notes on Zonitida. Naut., 1893, vii. , pp. 13-17. 



Thiele, J. — Ueber das Kriechen der Schnecken. Sitz und Ab. der Nat. Ges. , 

 Isis in Dresden, 1892, pp. 72-75. 



Wheeler, C. Le Roy.— The Unio Muddle. Naut., 1S93, vii., p. 9. 



Williams, J. W. — Conchological Cracknels. Sci. Goss., 1893, pp. 182-3. 



PHYSIOLOGY, HABITS, AND CONDITIONS OF LIFE. 



Herdman, W. A. — Oyster Culture and Temperature. Nature, July 20th, 1893, 

 p. 269. 



Prouho, H. — Observations sur les Mneurs de l'Idalia elegans (Leuckarl). Arch. 

 Zool. Exp., 1893 (3), i., pp. 105-111, figs. 1-4. 



M. Prouho continues his admirable observations on the habits of marine 

 animals, and has given a full and graphically illustrated description of the way in 

 which the Nudibranch Idalina elegans [On the name Idalina see Norman, Ann. 

 Mag. Nat. Hist., vi. , 1890, p. 74] buries itself in certain Ascidians of the family 

 CynthiidiC, The Nudibranch does not simply bore into the test of the Ascidian 

 in quest of imbedded Modioli?, as Alder and Hancock surmised, but makes a way 

 with its radula right through the test in order to devour the Ascidian itself. It is 

 able to distinguish between different Ascidians, its favourite prey being Polycarpa 

 varians and Ctaiicella : a single individual kept in an aquarium with a clump of 

 the former devoured six of the Ascidians in succession within 47 days. 



M. Prouho's observations thus fully confirm my own prior interpretation (Jour. 

 Mar. Biol. Ass., 1892, ii., 4, p. 336).— \V. G. 



Williamson, Mrs. M. B.— Beach Shell Collecting in connection with a study 

 of Oceanic Phenomena. Naut., 1893, vii., pp. 41-3. 



SPECIAL FAUNA AND DISTRIBUTION. 



Adcock, D. J.— A Hand List of the Aquatic Mollusca inhabiting South 

 Australia. Adelaide, 1893. 



As far as it goes it is fairly complete ; but it is only a partial fauna, for as its 

 author states, " the freshwater pulmonates are not included, and a few cephalopods, 

 several of the minute shelled gasteropods, the nudibranchs. and some additional 

 species of Kellia and allied genera are yet to be determined." 



