NEV,^ GUINEA AND THE TAPUANS 307 



forms. New (iiiinea may be regarded as the metropolis 

 (if the rich Helicidan launa which is also characteristic 

 i)f the northern group of tlie Moluccas, of X.l{. 

 Australia, and of the Solomons and neigh1)i»uiiiig groups. 

 Here aljound species of Papuina and Insidaria, among 

 which are found, if not the largest, certainly the most 

 finished, forms of all existing Helices. Ohhina and 

 Physota, genera which culminate in the Philippines, 

 here find their most eastward extension." Consideraljle 

 traces of a Polynesian element are found, especially in 

 the eastern part of the island {Partula, Tornatellina, 

 Thcdassia). The land operculates are feebly represented 

 as compared with the true Pulmonata, and are mostly of 

 marked Polynesian type. Not a single Cydoiyhoruf; 

 occurs, and Lagocliilus, Alycwus, and all the tubed 

 operculates, so characteristic of the Indo-Malay fauna, 

 are conspicuous by their absence. A single Pcrrieria is 

 a very marked feature of union with Queensland, where 

 the only other existing species occurs, and a solitary 

 Phytida, so far the only representative of the group of 

 carnivorous snails, emphasises this union still further. 

 Little is known of the fresh-water molluscs, l)ut on the 

 Avhole the relations appear to be Australian rather than 

 Inclo-Malayan. 



7. The Papuan Race. 



We now come to the consideration of the peoples in- 

 habiting the vast area just described. WhateN'er opinions 

 may be held concerning the place of origin of the 

 Papuan, there is no doulit that Xew Guinea — and, still 

 further to restrict, the north-western portion of it — is 

 now the focus of that race. Further, no other race 

 inhabits this area, unless, as is held by some ethnologists, 



