22 CURRENT LITERATURE. 



PfeiffeP, W. — Uber anatomische und histologische Bemerkungen iiber Tribonio- 

 pliorus graeffei, Humbert. Sitz. Gesell. naturf. Freunde I'.erlin, 1898, 

 pp. 33-38. 



Pilsbry, H. A. & Vanatta, E. G. — Revision of tlie Nunh American Slugs. 

 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1S98, pp. 219-61, pis. ix-xvi. 



This is the second part of a really valuable piece of work. It treats of the genera 

 Biiineya, Heinpltillia, Hespcrarion, Prophysaou, and Aiiadciuiltis. The paper is 

 divided into the following parts : — i, Notes on the comparative anatomy of 

 Arionidie ; 2, Classification; 3, Description of the genera and species; 4, Brief 

 directions for collecting and preparing slugs. 



The first part gives a clear and valuable account of the general anatomy of the 

 different genera. We pointed out that in the earlier publication the authors used 

 only the term "vagina" for the portion of the generative organs immediately pre- 

 ceeding the vestibule, in this part we are pleased to note they have discriminated 

 between the true vagina and the free-oviduct of Collinge. 



.Messrs. Pilsbry and \'anatta seem to have suddenly become aware of the fact, 

 long known to Eurofjean malacologists, that the pallial organs and muscular .system 

 are important factors in generic distinction. Seeing the first part of the " Revision" 

 contains little or no mention of these parts, and that the senior author has contented 

 himself with "oral armature" and even a shell without the animal in the past, the 

 force of their remarks about "those who starve their souls on a mere study of the 

 genitalia and oral aimature, miss the best part of the feast," is somewhat lost. 

 " Half a loaf is better than none," and in the Arioiiidcc the generative organs are 

 likely to remain a very prominent feature for specific distinction. We ciuite agree 

 with the remarks that it is upon the aggregate characters and not any single system 

 that generic distinctions should be made. We miss in this first part, as throughout 

 the whole paper, the references, so carefully given by European workers. We lay 

 some stress upon this serious defect, as not a few American malacologists are rather 

 f(jnd of using and repeating the well known facts of German and English mala- 

 cologists without giving any credit to the original describers. 



Of pari 2 we cannot speak too highly, it is thoroughly and carefully done, and 

 must for some time remain the best classification that has yet been given of the 

 ArionidiC. The family is divided into three sub-families, viz. : Biiiiieyn'ue, CklL, 

 Arioliiuaciiur, P. and \'. iiov., and Arionbue, W. G. Binney. Here again the 

 authorities are not mentioned. There are eight genera recognised, the genus 

 Phenacarion, Ckll., 1890, being rightly omitted. 



The descri]:)tions of the genera and species in part 3 is characterized by the same 

 care and thoroughness so evident in part 2. Want of space only forbids us to direct 

 attention to the numerous points of interest in the same. Messrs. Pilsbry and 

 Vanatta have in the two published parts of the " Revision" given to malacologists 

 an admirable guide to the American slugs, far and away the most important yet 

 published. We trust it will serve as an impetus to American students, and be the 

 means of training a series of broad and open minded malacologists, ever ready to 

 welcome and acknowledge the work of others, and upon disputed points to agree to 

 differ in all friendliness. — W. E. C. 



Pilsbry, H. A. — Phylogeny of the Genera of ^j"io?uWcc. Proc. Mai. Soc. Lond., 

 1898, vol. iii, pp. 94-104, pi. vii. 



We are indebted in this paper to Professor Pilsbry for a careful description, with 

 figures, of the anatomy of Anndenus alliragus, Theob., which corrects and amplifies 

 the earlier description of Godwin-Austen ; and also for a most interesting account 

 of the phylogeny of the different genera oi Arionidai. 



As affording the most fundamental characters for the primary division of the 

 Arionidie, Professor Pilsbry selects the modifications of the free muscles. These 

 myological features in the different genera are carefully described and compared. 

 From a study of the anatomy the author concludes that the genus Aiuidciiiis is a 

 much more primitive one than any of the European ArlonUUc. In the form and 



