ioe N Bais. 
VoL. VIII. SEPTEMBER, 1894. No. 5 
REMARKS ON THE STATUS OF SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES. 
BY H. A. -PIESBRY. 
In several articles published in recent issues of this journal, a con- 
chologist as well known for his wide experience in the field as for 
the vigor and point of his fluent pen, has been at some pains to 
criticise certain work by the writer, on American land shells. 
Several newly named varieties of well known shells are particularly 
obnoxious to my good friend; and in another place’ he attacks the 
recent systems of classification of land shells, darkly hinting at 
certain tabulated results which he fancies would astonish system- 
atists. Now in view of the amount of ink wasted over the questions 
of SPECIES, VARIETIES and CLASSIFICATION, it may be worth while 
to point out a few of the facts in the case; to show the futility of 
arguing on the abstract question of species, and incidentally to call 
attention to some of Mr. Wetherby’s mistakes in dealing with cer- 
tain varieties described by myself. 
Mr. Wetherby says: “we may have species; we certainly have 
no subspecies.” Now the truth is that Natwre knows nothing of 
“species” or “subspecies,” but only individuals. All groups of in- 
dividuals are conventional and artificial. Were the record of palzeon- 
tology complete, almost the entire mass of living individuals would 
be found to be connected throughout by intermediate forms. Not 
only would most of the species intergrade, but the genera, families 
1Tand Shells of Roan Mt. and Vicinity, Journal Cin. Soc. N. H. 
