82 Bibliographical Notices. 



nion with Scalaria ; Phylli^'hoa, organized like the lowest Nudi- 

 branchiata ; and the fabulous Ptei'osoma, in addition to the Atlan- 

 tidce and Firolidce. which in some respects resemble the Strombs. 



In the Subclass Pulmonifera the principal novelty is the con- 

 stitution of the family Oleacinidce^ for which there are good grounds, 

 if it be restricted to the shells usually known as Glandince. It may 

 however be doubted whether BuUmus decoUatus and a hundred others 

 which the authors have included, really belong to the family ; least 

 of all should we admit the little Ziia lubrica, figured as an illustration 

 of the group, and called by mistake " Oleacina tridens " (pi. 71 . f. 1). 

 On the other hand, they have placed in the same subgenus with the tiny 

 needle-shell ( Cionella acicula) the great Glandina Alyira, which has 

 a lingual organ as large as that of the Testacella, armed with equally 

 formidable teeth, arranged in V-shaped rows. In the list of species 

 we observe the Achatina cylichna of Lowe, which is a fossil ; while 

 the Achatina (/racilis of the same author figures in three places, as 

 Oleacina (^Azeca) terebel/a, again as Glandina (^Acicula) ffracilis, and, 

 200 pages further on, as Acicida gracilis. 



In the family Auriculidcs (" Ellobiidse," Adams) we searched for 

 our twin British species Conoimlus denticulatus and bidentatiis, 

 which when young are so alike, but found no such name as Cono- 

 vuhis, although we encountered some strange characters called Pira, 

 Tifata, Signia, and Persa (the name-maker must have been terribly 

 hard up !) ; at length we discovered our old acquaintances, under the 

 disguise of Leuconia and Alexia, in two distinct subfamilies. 



Lastly, we must confess that the position of Truncatella and Assi- 

 minea with the Pulmoniferous land snails is utterly beyond our com- 

 prehension at the present instant. 



In the Prospectus attached to the first number of this work, the 

 authors have very truly stated that at the present day there is a very 

 general wish shown by zoological students to learn something of " the 

 habits, organization, and affinities of the animals which construct 

 shells." We have always found that those who took a hearty in- 

 terest in shells, were still more interested in shell-fish, and without 

 going into anatomical researches, there was enough in the study of 

 external or zoological characters to afford very high gratification. 

 Every one knows, who has studied natural history, that this pleasure 

 is personal, and independent of utilitarian considerations or the sti- 

 mulus of ambitious competition. 



The Zoological Illustrations, and abridged descriptions of the ani- 

 mals of the genera, are certainly the most valuable portion of the 

 work, and reflect the greatest credit on the industry and skill of 

 authors and artist. V/e have had opportunity of seeing the pains 

 taken by Mr. Sowerby to make the best of his materials. The para- 

 graphs relating to structure, physiology, and habits, are scarcely so 

 satisfactory as might have been expected from the profession of one 

 of the authors, and the promise in the prospectus. The signs of 

 compilation are obvious at every step, and too often of unintelligent 

 compilation. In the first chapter the metamorphosis of the Gaste- 

 ropoda is described as applying to all Mollusca (p. 7). The tongue 

 of the carnivorous Gasteropoda is said to be " forked and fleshy," 



