THE NAUTILUS. 



69 



equivaleiil to the old genus Ranella. The Tritons are arranged 



thus : 



Family Septid^. 



Genus Trachytriton Meek (Cretaceous only). 



Genus Personella Conr. (Eocene, and perhaps including the recent 

 Triton quoyi Rve). 



Gerius Ranellina Conr. (Eocene). 



Genus Gyrineum Link (Tritons with continuous lateral varices). 



Genus Eugyrina Dall (Type Ranella giguntea Lam.). 



Genus Argohuccinum Morch (Type Ranella vexillum Brod. In- 

 cludes also the West Coast sj)ecies Priene nregonensis Redf., etc.). 



Genus Distortrix Link {Distorsio of authors). 



Genus Oymatium Bolten (^Triton femorale, etc.). 



Genus Septa Perry (Large forms such as T. tritoms, etc.). 



In recent years all of these groups containing recent species have 

 been generally recognized under one name or another. Gymatium 

 contains nearly all the forms ordinarily called "Triton " except tiiose 

 segregated in Septa, a group which Dall considers sufficiently differ- 

 entiated for generic rank, although Kesteven and others have opposed 

 this view. 



The classification proposed by Dall will, we believe, meet with 

 general approval. It seems worthy of acceptance pending the inves- 

 tigation of the soft anatomy of the snails in question, which is still 

 imperfectly known. 



The chief innovations in generic nomenclature of the two families 

 are for the most part consequent upon the adoption of the Museum 

 Bolteniamim as an acceptable source of nomenclature, — a position 

 still in debate. This work is so excessively rare that it is hardly to 

 be called published in the ordinary sense. Of the first edition — 

 which is the only one seriously affecting nomenclature — there is one 

 copy in America and we suppose not over half a dozen, if so many, 

 known in the world. Even in Germany, Herrmannsen, over fifty 

 years ago, could not get access to a copy, though he made concholog- 

 ical literature an exclusive study for years. The work has other 

 objectionable features, as the free use of polynomials, such as Cym- 

 bium cochlear neptuni, Cardium cor aurilum, Murex mitra episcopalis, 

 Cassis mitella polonica, Neptunea corona mexicana, etc. Nobody who 

 swallows these ought to choke over Chemnitz. It is evident that 

 some general consensus of opinion is called for, before it will be ad- 



