Mf1I.I,TJSr\ OF INDIA. 6 



order : —An'idi'nris and Opeits (both ver}- well reprcsontcd in my 

 eullection), Sivelhi, JIarpahis, I'lan.ispira, and PlectotrDpis (many 

 species have been worked out iu these four genera). 



Among the earlier writers on Glessula — I'tcid'or, Bensoii, aiid 

 both Henry and William Blanford — Geoffrey Nevill undoubtedly has 

 the highest claim to notice ; he had made a special study of the 

 genus, and knew it better than anyone I have come in contact 

 with. Much of Eeddome's knowledge was obtained from him in 

 correspondence and exchange of specimens from Southern India. 

 This is well shown in his copy of the ' Hand-List,' being a 

 catalogue of all the Gastero])oda in the Indian Museum when his 

 health compelled him to retire. This is not a mere reprint 

 of the first original edition of 1878 containing 338 pages, but 

 there is added to every sjiecies the work in which it was originally 

 j)ublished ; all additional species (in this genus 1!8} are given with 

 descriptions of those Nevill considered new, while in hundreds of 

 cases throughout the book the dimensions of type shells are given. 

 One point which must not be forgotten is Nevill's great accuraoj- 

 in the records of habitat and the collectors through whom the species 

 were obtained. The title-page is headed " Proof for new Edition," 

 "For the Trustees Indian Museum — G. Nevill, 1-11-81." On 

 another page, " To be offered to Trustees Indian Museum if they 

 consider it may be of any practical value to them ; if not, to bo 

 given to Col. Godwin-Austen. — Signed, G'. Nevill, London, July 5tli, 

 1879." Shortly after Nevill's death at Davos in Switzerland, 

 I received the copy with other books and valuable notes, and did 

 all I could to get it published. 



On 23rd December, 1885, I first approached the Trustees of the 

 Indian Museum, strongly advising the publication of a Second 

 Edition ; in February 1886 I received a reply from the Honorary 

 Secretary, Mr. H. B. Medlicott, of which this is the concluding 

 paragraph : " The Trustees consent to your keeping present custody 

 of and using the valuable copy of the Hand-list of Mollusea con- 

 taining Mr. Nevill's notes and additions. There is no immediate 

 prospect of special work in that branch of the collections." In 

 fact, the post which Nevill held has never been filled up to this 

 day : for 40 years the collections of Mollusea have been in many 

 hands, and in the course of many moves some species catalogued 

 by Nevill could not be found when I have applied for them. It 

 says much for those who have had charge that the collection is not 

 in a worse state. 



I next took the book to Dr. John Anderson, the retired Super- 

 intendent of the India Museum, under whom Nevill had served. 

 He could effect nothing, although, if I remember right, he went to 

 the India Office : it was the old story — no funds ! 



In 188i, in a final attempt to see it through the press myself, 

 I obtained from Messrs. Taylor & Francis an estimate for (572 pages, 

 500 copies unbound, ^221 10s. Gd. This sum was not to be 

 got — I had it not to give, but would have given what knowledge 

 1 had towards publication. 



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