CURRENT LITERATURE I75 



the pressure of air in the lung. This species frequently inhabits water so cold as 



the freezing point, and may be observed in winter gliding along the bottom of a 

 pond when the surface is frozen. The eggs are deposited on stones, the under side 

 of sticks, etc. , and are composed of large, glairy, transparent masses. * * * The 

 egg masses measured 20 by 4 mill., and contained from 120 to 200 eggs." — W.E.C. 



Donald. J. — On some recent Gastropoda referred to the family Turritdlidac and 

 their supposed relationship to the Murchisoniidae. Proc. Malac. Soc. Lond., 

 1900, vol. iv, pp. 47 — ^55, pi. V. 



The object of Miss Donald's paper is to draw special attention to the shells of 

 "some recent Gastropoda which bear considerable resemblance to certain fossil 

 forms referred to the family Murchisoniidae," in the hope that the animals as well as 

 the shells may be studied, with the view of learning more of their affinities. 



The genus Murchisonia is especially characterised by the possession on the 

 outer lip of a deep narrow slit, many other genera show the same character, but 

 otherwise differ greatly from the shells of the above mentioned genus, excepting 

 seven species of Turritella and four new species which are here described under a 

 new section Cvlpospira, with Turritella runcinata, Watson, as the type. Until 

 the animal is known, the author thinks it advisable to regard Colpospira as a section 

 of Turritella. All the species of this group have been dredged off the coasts of 

 Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. The new species are T. (Colpospira) 

 smithiana, crcnulata, godeffroyana, quadrata and a variety scitula, nov. of the last 

 named species. In T. quadrata the sinus is much broader and shallower ; 

 should it later be proved that the animal shows structural differences, Miss Donald 

 suggests the name of Flatycolpus for a new section for its reception. 



It is to be hoped that sufficient material of some of these species foi anatomical 

 investigation may soon be obtained.— W. E. C. 



Babor, J. F. — Mittheilungen iiber Nacktschnecken in der Sammlung des K. K. 

 naturhistorischen Hofmuseum. Ann. d. K. K. naturhist. Hofmuseums, Wien, 

 1900, Bd. XV, pp. 95 — 102. 



Two new species are described, Ariolimax stcindachneri, from Puget Sound, 

 North America, and Atopos ( Padangia, subg. n.) schildii, from Padang, Sumatra. 



BabOP, J. F. — Uber die Nacktschnecken der Grazer Umgegend. Verhandl. d. D. 

 Zool. Ge.sell., 1900, pp. 148—150. 



Randies, W. B.— On the Anatomy of Turritella communis, Risso. Proc. Malac. 

 Soc. Lond., 1900, vol, iv, pp. 56 — 65, pi. vi. 



In view of the recent discussions upon, and the suggested affinities between, 

 certain species of Turritella and the extinct genus Murchisonia, Mr. Randies' 

 account of the anatomy of T. communis is very welcome. After a general descrip- 

 tion of the alimentary canal, radula, generative organs, the nephridium, gill, 

 osphradium, and nervous system, the author concludes that thougli Turritella is in 

 no way particularly specialised, it can hardly be regarded as approaching a primitive 

 type; some few characters are undoubtedly primitive, such, for example, as the 

 presence of an epipodium, the fringed and papiliated mantle, and in some species 

 the presence of otoconia. The aggregate characters, however, especially as regards 

 the nervous system, indicate that Turritella is a fairly highly organised monoto- 

 cardian, and not at all approaching in structure the Diotocardia. — W. E. C. 



Vayssiere, A, — Description de deux especes de Pleurobranchides. Journ. de^ 

 Conchyl. , 1900, vol. xlviii, pp. 8 — II. 



The new species are Oscaniopsis omhoinci and Pleurohranchaca capensis. 



Kennard, A. S., and Woodward, B. B. — The Pleistocene non-marine 

 Mollusca of Ilford. Proc. Geol. Assoc, 1900, vol. xvi, pp. 282 — 286. 



