42 THE NAUTILUS. 



I never described shells from these localities, but we always must 

 bear in mind the fact that N. American shells have never been 

 treated in the same way that Euroj^eau. There is in America a 

 tendency to restrain the specific forms, and not to admit a shell to 

 .s|)ecific rank l)efore the animal, anatomic features and particularly 

 dentition be known. The celebrated American scientist, Mr. W. G. 

 Binnev, several years since, wrote me about this, concluding that 

 " our system may be a good one, but that he wished to be consistent." 

 In Europe, we admit to specific rank whenever a .shell offers suffi- 

 cient, even slight, but con.staut characters, should these characters be 

 the result of station, food, climate, etc., such circumstances often 

 being quite uneasy and generally impossible to determine. 



Besides this, the Eastern States will doubtless afford a number of 

 small new species, when the ponds, rivers, etc. — particularly in the 

 drifts and alluvions — will be as much thoroughly explored as similar 

 places have already been searched for in France, where quite 

 unexpected forms of Lartetia, Paladilhia, Moitessieria in still l^etter 

 known localities are discovered, and where the mountainous countries 

 daily yield an increasing number of Zonitidce, Pupidcc, etc., hitherto 

 not discovered by earlier conchologists inhabiting the country. A 

 tri}) in the Pyrenean region in 1884 was very successful in this way, 

 and amongst the novelties I then found, I may mention the fine 

 HyalinaAnceyi, West., and the Paladilhia-Uke shell I have alluded 

 to. 



NOTE UPON MR. ANCEY'S CRITICISM. 



BY H. A. PILSBRY, 



Upon reading over my short article, written over a year ago, to 

 which the above criticism is a reply, I find that I am prepared to 

 stand by every word of it as far as matters of fact are concerned ; 

 and I feel confident that increased knowledge in the future will con- 

 firm my statements. I regret that it was so written as to seem to Mr. 

 Ancey " inconsiderate." Nothing is more painful than a real or 

 fancied violation of those amenities which should characterize all the 

 relations between naturali.sts ; and I am glad of this opportunity of 

 expressing my esteem for Mr. Ancey, whose work and attainments 

 are well known to all concholo2:ists. 



