CURRENT LITERATURE. 9 



NOTES. 



Pfeiffer's dates of publication, &.c. 



Other students of the N. Z. Mollusca and myself are interested to learn by 

 means of the note in the September number of " The Conchologist " (p. 180), by 

 E. R. S., the real date of Pfeiffer's alpha-beta series of names. What I had 

 conjectured is thereby proved that these names first appeared not in the P. Z. S., 

 but in the A/on. Hel. Viv., vol. iii. When engaged in preparing the " Reference 

 List" I sought, like E. R. S., particulars of these publication dates from the 

 Zoological Society, who courteously acknowledged my inquiry, and withheld the 

 information. 



Another series of dates has lately puzzled me, viz., those of publication of 

 the Journal tie Conchyliologie. I should like to learn, and so no doubt would 

 other malacologists, when the last four numbers, dated respectively on the first 

 page 1st Jan., 1893; 1st Oct., 1892; 1st July, 1892; and 1st April, 1892, were 

 received at, say, the Library of the British Museum. — Charles Hedley, F.L.S., 

 Australian Museum, Sydney. 



The Journal de Conchyliologie. 



The question Mr. Hedley raises re the actual date of publication of certain 

 parts of this valuable quarterly, is one of great importance, and I venture to 

 suggest that future copies should bear the exact date, e.g., January 1894 (published 

 February 1st, 1894). I have communicated with Mr. E. R. Sykes, and he 

 has very kindly sent to me the actual dates of receipt that the above-mentioned 

 copies in the British Museum (Natural History) bear on their covers. 



DATE ON COVER. STAMPED. 



1st April, 1892 3rd Sept., 1892 



1st July, 1892 22nd Feb., 1893 



1st Oct., 1892 10th May, 1893 



1st Jan., 1893 22nd July, 1893 



1st April, 1893 19th Dec, 1893 



It seems to me that unless a sheet is printed giving the actual dates of 

 publication of those parts issued during the last three years considerable doubt 

 will be thrown upon the claim for priority of many authors. — Walter E. 

 Collinge. 



CURRENT LITERATURE. 



In order to make the following Bibliography as complete as 

 possible, the Editor invites the co-operation of British and foreign 

 authors. All communications should be addressed to the Editor, 

 the "Journal of Malacology," Mason College, Birmingham, England. 



MALACOLOGY IN GENERAL. 



Kew, H. Wallis. — The Dispersal of Shells. London, 1893. (Inter. Sci. Ser., 

 vol. lxxv., pp. i.-xiv. and 1-291.) 



Very carefully, and with much attention to detail, Mr. Kew has collected 

 together a large body of facts relating to the means of dispersal possessed by the 

 land and freshwater Mollusca ; but surely his enthusiasm has led him rather far 

 when he records such a hazy reference as (p. 142): "Dr. Scharff tells me that he 

 remembers having somewhere seen an account of," &c. A certain feeling of 

 disappointment arises when we find that almost all the well authenticated cases 

 will only account for the scattering of mollusca over a very small area. No 

 case is on record, for instance, of any bird having been seen in Britain with any 



