Quarterly Journal of Conchology. 395 



rectify. With this idea I send these rough notes, which in them- 

 selves may not be perfect ; I think, however, they will explain a 



little m.ore. 



The Moluccan Region. 



D. New Guinea. I have visited the southern coast of this great 

 and interesting Island and lived a considerable time on the coast 

 of the great Eastern Peninsula, occasionally penetrating into the 

 interior in the direction of Mounts Owen Stanley and Astrolabe. 

 Generally speaking, I was surprised and disappointed at the 

 comparative barrenness of the country so far as Land Shells are 

 concerned, although the rich tropical vegetation exists in many 

 parts in the same profusion and luxuriance as in the Solomon and 

 other adjacent Islands, but the land Mollusca offer a very marked 

 contrast, both as regards number of species and their profusion 

 individually. 



I visited Katow, on the coast opposite to Cape York, the 

 most northerly extremity of Australia, in the "Chevert"' expedition. 

 The general aspect of the country here is one universal INIangrove 

 Swamp extending for many miles in either direction, formed by what 

 appears to be the delta of the Great Fly River. On the banks of 

 the rivers a dense, rank vegetation is ever present, while the coasts, 

 and in many instances the banks of the rivers, are invariably 

 fringed with the INIalaria-breeding Mangrove. The land shells 

 coUected here are described in the " Proceedings of the Linnean 

 Society of New South Wales for 1876," by Mr. J. Brazier, viz. :— 

 Helix (Thalassia) amiulus, H. (Geotrochus) Strabo, H. (GeO' 

 trochus) siciilus, Helicina Maliio. 



At Yule Island on the eastern side by the Gulf of Papua^ 

 separated from the mainland of New Guinea by Hall Sound, the 

 following where collected: — Helix (Thalassia) sapplio, H. (Discus) 

 Lo/uonti, H (Couulus) Maiuo, H. (Coiiulus) Siarkeii, H (Geo- 

 trochus) Yulensis, H ( Geotrochus j Brazierce, Bulivuis Macleayi, 

 Tornatellina terrestris, Pupinella Crossei, Helicina Coxeni; and on 



