322 



SOLOMON IS, AND QUEENSLAND 



Hebrides, New Caledonia, and the Viti Is. is the occurrence of 

 rioeosfi/lvs (16 sp.). It is very remarkable that this genus 

 should occur in tlie Solomon Is. and ncjt in New Ireland. The 

 occurrence of Streptaxis, if authentic, is very noteworthy, the 

 nearest species being from the Philippines. 



Land and Fresh-water Molliisca of the Solomon Islands. 



(Jj) The Queensland Province. — The strip of coast-line from Cape 

 York to the Clarence E. stands apart from the rest of Australia, 

 and is closely connected with New Guinea. There can be little 

 doubt that it has been colonised from the latter country, since 

 an elevation of even 10 fathoms would create (see map) a wide 

 bridge between the two. Many of the genera are quite strange 

 to the rest of Australia. Land operculates are abundant, and of 

 a Papuan type. Several of the characteristic Papuan genera of 

 Helix {Papuina, Chloritis, Planispira^ occur, while Hadra attains 



Fig. 214. — Characteristic Aus- 

 tralian Helices : A, B. 

 (Jladra) j^oimim Pfr. ; B, 

 IF. ( Thersites) richmondiana 

 Pfr. X g. 



its maximum. Panda, Pedinogyra, and Tlicrsites are three remark- 

 able groups in a rich Helix fauna. Parmacocldea is a peculiar 

 form akin to Helicarion. The carnivorous MoUusca are repre- 

 sented by Rhytida, Diplomphalus (New Caledonia), and Elaca. 

 One species of Janella, a slug peculiar to this region, occurs. 

 The predominant fresh-water genus is Bulinus {Isidora). Am- 

 ptdlaria and Anodonta are entirely absent from Australia and 

 New Zealand. 



