Heliciclae of New Zealand, Tafimnnoi^ and South Africa. ^5 



It is a most astonishing tact how close the relation between 

 the Tasmanian ami New Zealand raolhiscan fauna really 

 is, more so than I ever anticipated. Of nine sections of 

 the genus FlammuUna occurring in New Zealand, five are 

 represented in Tasmania. Most remarkable is the prepon- 

 derance of Gerontia, a section re[)resentcd in New Zealand 

 by two species only, and of Phrixt/nathus, which is also well 

 represented in New Zealand. A very striking feature is the 

 almost total absence of Endodonfa, the Polynesian element, 

 there being only one species of Endodonfa, s. str., and one of 

 Charopa known from Tasmania. Rhijtida is more abundant 

 in Tasmania, whilst Rhenea is represented by two species in 

 each country. 



With regard to the relation between the laud moUuscan 

 fauna of New Zealand, Tasmania, and South Africa^ I 

 do not know much at present; yet the little knowledge 

 available seems of great importance. The genus JErope 

 is no doubt nearly allied to Rhijtida ; but the most 

 important fact has been brought to our knowledge by the 

 examination of the dentition and part of the animal of 

 Pella Burnupi, M. & P. The authors of this species state 

 that it is of allied character to F. bisculpta, Benson, the type 

 of Pella, and the dentition given may therefore be taken as 

 typical for the section or genus. I have studied the dentition 

 of most of the New Zealand land and freshwater shells, and, 

 as shown above, of a good many from Tasmania, and I 

 may therefore be allowed to give my opinion as to the 

 systematic position of Pella Burnupi, M. & P., and Pella 

 generally. I have not the slightest doubt that it must be 

 classed under Haplogona next to FlammuUna. 



The dentition and part of the animal which I was able to 

 examine closely resemble those of FlammuUna^ s. str., and 

 Gerontia from New Zealand and Tasmania ; and I think that 

 the South- African genus Pella belongs to the Antarctic mol- 

 luscan fauna, which no doubt dates back to the Cretaceous 

 period at least. 



There are other South- African land-shells which seem 

 to me to be more or less closely allied to forms from New 

 Zealand, and I hope to obtain the animals for examination. 



[With regard to the genus Pella, as alluded to in the above 

 article, we would refer our readers to the remarks made by- 

 Mr. Pilsbry in the ' Manual of Conchology,' vol. viii. pp. 135 et seq. — 

 Eds. Ann. Sf Mag. Nat. Hist.'] 



Ann. iSa Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 6. Vol. xiii. 5 



