jP^fi Helicidje of New Zealand^ Tasmania^ and S. Africa. 11 



the inner side cutting-point increasing slowly in size, and the 

 former being slightly directed towards the central tooth. 



A number of intermediate teeth show a gradual reduction 

 of the reflected portion from tricuspid to bicuspid, the median 

 cutting-point and, more especially, the inner cutting-point 

 increasing in length. 



Marginals quadrangular, much broader than long, triden- 

 tate, the median denticle being the strongest. The eighteenth 

 tooth sometimes with four denticles ; the last with oue only, 

 rudimentary. 



Animal. — Tail rounded, slightly tapering, with a mucous 

 tail-gland. There is a pedal line and diagonal grooves on 

 the sides of the foot. 



Note. — I also examined the dentition of Vitrina Iludsomce^ 

 Benson, from South Africa, which proved to be a Helicarion, 

 as I anticipated. 



VI. — Preliminary Notes on the Relation between the Heli- 

 cida3 of New Zealand^ Tasmania, and South Africa. By 

 Henry Suteu, Christchurch, New Zealand. 



Before entering upon the subject in question it will be neces- 

 sary to say a few words as to the present classification of the 

 New Zealand Helicidse, which will be more or less new to 

 most conchologists. In the " Keference List of the Land 

 and Freshwater Mollusca of New Zealand " (Proc. Linn. Soc. 

 N. S. W. (2) vii. p. 633) Mr. C. Hedley and the writer 

 classed the Helices under Zouitida3, induced by the characters 

 of the animal — clavate eye-peduncles, distinct pedal line, 

 diagonal grooves on the foot, and mucous tail-gland in many 

 of them ; but, in accordance with Mr. H. A. Pilsbry and 

 Dr. von Iheriug, I am now fully convinced that the New 

 Zealand Helicidte are Yealiy _pseudo-::onitoid mollusks. 



In 1892 I sent a collection of New Zealand land-shells to 

 Mr. H. A. Pilsbry, and the result was his article " Observa- 

 tions on the Helices of New Zealand," published in ' Nautilus ' 

 (vol. vi. no. 5, p. 54). With regard to the numerous genera 

 recognized by New Zealand conchologists the author says : — 

 " These sections or subgenera are founded upon various modi- 

 fications of the shell or jaw, but they have not sutficieut distinct- 

 ness to rank as genera, unless we understand that term in a 

 much more restricted sense than it has been used by the 

 majority of conchologists or zoologists generally." He unites 



