THE NAUTILUS. 93 
on the Pacitic Islands, where they are free from the competition of 
highly organized types of Helix, which have driven them from the 
Tropics and North Temperate regions. In the north the species 
are comparatively few in numbers, and live mainly in the colder 
latitudes, where more recent types of Helix do not flourish, or in 
some cases they have become reduced in size as in the sections 
Helicodiscus, Pyramidula s. str., Planogyra, Patulastra, ete., acquir- 
ing the habits of the Pupe with which they compete, and in many 
cases the Pupa type of dentition also. 
The name Pyramidula Fitz. 1833, has been preferred to that of 
Patula Held. 1837, for the Eur-A merican group to which H. rotun- 
data and alternata belong, on the ground of prior publication, and 
because two other names for the group were proposed in 1837, either 
of which has as much claim to be accepted as Patula. There are 
moreover, still two more names antedating Patula, besides the ear- 
liest name, Pyramidula. This change is therefore inevitable. 
The figures were mostly drawn by the author. They illustrate 
prominent typical species of all the subgenera and sections; so that 
it is comparatively easy for a person unacquainted with the intrica- 
cies of Helix classification to refer any specimen to its appropriate 
group, whether it be a living or fossil form. 
NOTES AND NEWS. 
In a recent letter from Miss Ida M. Shepard, she says: “ We 
have formed what we call the Los ANGELES CoNCHOLOGICAL 
Cup, for the study of our local shells, and hope to take up the 
west coast species generally later. We have eleven members, and 
meet once or twice a month.” We heartily endorse this new organ- 
ization for the study of the mollusca, and wish the club a success- 
ful future—C. W. J. 
Species DererMiIneD.—From M. M. Schepman, Rhon near 
Rotterdam, Holland, 1. Sistrwm nodulosum C. B. Ads.; 2. Bittium 
sp.; 3. Carditamera gracilis Shuttl.; 4,5. Aemaea cubensis Reeve ; 
6. Acmaea leucopleura Gmel.; 7. Donax fossor Say ; 8. Heterodonax 
bimaculatus, L.; 9. Intiopa bombyx Kien.; 10, 11. Afytilus exustus 
Linn.—C. W. J. 
