THE NAUTILUS. 23 



mation that now exists and is at the command of the conchologist, 

 in reference to the genus Goniobasis^ both in the form of labeled 

 collections and literature, is in such shape as to be practically useless 

 to the average collector for the following reasons : 



1st. That the local collectors and students have in their collections 

 recorded species and varieties of species, many of which are entirely 

 due to local surroundings, and which should not be recognized, as 

 they now are, as distinct species. These have never been brought 

 together in numbers sufficient to allow of a proper estimate as to 

 their value as separate species. 



2d. That the individual study of this family, in many cases with- 

 out the means of comparing large numbers of so-called species and 

 varieties, has resulted in much confusion and caused a prevalent 

 erroneous conception of their value as species. 



3d. That the great difficulty which the study of this family pre- 

 sents, the liability to error, and the dislike of any one to publish work 

 which may afterwards prove to be wrong, has deterred many from 

 putting forward their individual information, which would be of great 

 value when used in connection with a mass of similar information 

 from other sources. 



AVith these facts before me, I believe that some step ought to be 

 taken to at least do something to throw additional light on tliis large 

 genus of North American mollusks. 



My idea is as follows ; Take George AV. Tryon's Strepomatidce of 

 North America, use his list of the Goniobasis as a basis, and build 

 up a monograph of the genus on the foundation and along the lines 

 laid down by him. 



Many " species " very closely related in geographical distribution 

 are named as such simply from a variation of color, a variation which 

 exists in almost every known species to a greater or less degree. 



With a large collection of my own, with the opportunity of exam- 

 ining several others of fair dimensions and containing large series ot 

 Goniobasis, and with a tolerably large proportion of the existing 

 literature at hand, I am satisfied that with the generous help of 

 others interested in this matter I may undertake the task, hoping 

 that some good end may be obtained. I propose to send out to all 

 students of the subject lists of all the described species of the genus 

 Goniobasis, requesting them to correct such lists to the best of their 

 judgment and ability, and to supply me by exchange or loan with 



