THE NAUTILUS. 83 
people such a complete account of the present status of their mollus- 
can fauna. We only wish it were possible to have similar works pre- 
pared in all of our large cities, before advancing civilization de- 
stroys or locally exterminates many species. 
ConrTRIBUTIONS TO THE TrRTIARY Fauna oF FLoripa, by 
Wm. H. Dall. (Transactions of the Wagner Free Institute of 
Science, Vol. III, pt. 4, 1898). This volume is a continuation of 
Professor Dall’s great work on the Tertiary Mollusks of Florida, 
and treats of two orders of the Pelecypoda: Prionodesmacea and 
Teleodesmacea. ‘‘ Including in many cases a complete revision of 
the generic groups treated of and their American Tertiary spe- 
cies.” 
In the Nueculide and Ledide the generic and specific synonymy 
is fully given and 18 new species described. The name Parallelo- 
dontide is substituted for Macrodontide (in pt. 4) since the generic 
name Macrodon is preoccupied. In the family Arcide 30 new spe- 
cies are described and many changes are made in the nomenclature. 
Glycymeris DaCosta 1778, is used instead of Pectunculus Lamarck 
1799, and a number of Conrad’s species are reduced to synonyms. 
Arca occidentalis Phil. is adopted for the Florida and West Indian 
species that has been referred to Arca now Linn. by many authors. 
“ A careful comparison shows that the American shell should not 
be united with the Mediterranean Arca noe.” Arca campechensis 
Dillwyn has precedence over A. peaataSay. Arca americana Gray 
is also considered a synonym, 
We cannot altogether approve of Dr. Dall’s manner of treating 
the names of subgenera and sections; more uniformity in writing 
the name of a shell would simplify matters greatly. We do not 
think that subgeneric names should be used instead of generic, or 
the names of sections in place of subgeneric names. 
In the family Pinnide 5 new species are described. Melina Ret- 
zius, 1788, is adopted instead of Perna Lamarck, 1799, which 
necessitates changing the family name to Melinide. In the family 
Pteriide, Pteria Scopoli, 1777, takes the place of Avicula Olivi, 
1792. A very interesting account of the “ origin of the mutations 
of Ostrea” is given, followed by a review of the described species. 
The family Pectinide is well represented in the American Tertiary, 
including the fossil species from the Pacific Coast. One hundred 
and twenty-five species and varieties are enumerated, 21 of which 
