SPECIFIC AREAS. XXxiii 



less abundantly watered places, since resting periods would 

 be shorter, and the succession of generations would be faster. 

 I believe, therefore, that such forms as A. turgida simulacrum, 

 A. vittata simulans, A. leucorraphe irwini, are accelerated 

 races of species which at lower levels have lagged behind in 

 pattern-evolution. 



While many conchologists may consider the treatment of 

 Achatinella in this work an extreme example of "lumping", 

 (since we recognize but 43 species in place of 171 described), 

 it really belongs to the splitting school. Both authors hold 

 that a considerable further reduction would have to be made 

 to make the species of equal value with most Oahuan species 

 of Leptachatina or Amastra ; that is, to make them all species 

 of the first grade. 



The immense color-differentiation of Achatinella has not 

 been exaggerated by former naturalists, but its systematic 

 value has been overrated. While it is believed that the "sub- 

 species" of this work are in large part comparable to groups 

 of equal rank elsewhere, the authors are prepared to find that 

 some of them may turn out to be undeserving of a trinomial 

 title. In other words, they may turn out to be forms of the 

 third grade, like many of the species of Gulick. 



Extent of specific areas. 



An idea of the size of the specific areas of Achatinella may 

 be gained from the maps on pp. 183 and 277 and the table on 

 p. 276. The colonies of one species may be spread over from 

 a dozen to fifty square miles, but actually occupy only a small 

 per cent of the territory. Some color-races are known from 

 very small areas even down to one or two trees, as recorded 

 in the text. In general, the specific areas in Achatinella are 

 smaller than in Amastra, though there are exceptions. Some 

 Amastras of the high peaks of the main range are as yet known 

 from very limited areas. The species or races of the extremely 

 humid region on top are generally of very limited distribu- 

 tion, but of course the summit of the main ridge is only 

 known in spots, as there is no ridge trail. 



