CURRENT LITERATURE. 27 



This new genus is established for the reception of the " Epiphragm.opJiora" hack- 

 itina of Dall, and is allied to Ashmunclla. It agrees with this last genus in the 

 absence of any trace of dart-sac or mucous glands, and generally in the form of the 

 reproductive organs, free muscles and pallial organs. This forms the third American 

 genus of Bdogoaa established since 1895, the others being Ashmundla, Pils. and 

 Ckll., and Metosti-acon, Pils. 



Pilsbpy, Henry A. — On the Zoological position of Partula and Achatinella. 

 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1 900, pp. 561—567, pi. xvii. 



Dr. Pilsbry proposes to divide the Vasopulmonata into two groups, the Orth- 

 urethra and Sigmurcthra. In the former series the ureter passes directly forward 

 from the kidney, toward the anterior margin of the lung, a condition common to the 

 Basommatophora, which have been generally considered ancestral to the Stylomma- 

 tophora. In Partula, Achatinella, etc., this same condition obtains, and in the 

 author's opinion indicates that such genera are members of an ancient and ancestral 

 group lying at the base of the vasopulmonate phylum. In the latter series the ureter 

 is abruptly reflexed from the apex of the kidney, passing to the posterior end of the 

 pulmonary cavity. Thence an open groove or closed tube (secondary ureter or Darm- 

 harnleiter) continues across to the last fold of the gut, which it follows forward to 

 the mantle-edge. 



A rough tabulation of the various families belonging to these two groups is then 

 given, and the anatomy of Partula rosea, Brod., and Achatinella dolei, Baldwin, 

 described and figured. Dr. Pilsbry concludes that the Achatinellidae is apparently 

 a group of great antiquity, the archaic pallial organs and male generative organs 

 being associated with peculiarly specialised female organs. 



Pilsbry, Henry A,— The Genesis of Mid-Pacific Faunas. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 

 Phila., 1900, pp. 568 — 581. 



The author summarises this very interesting paper as follows : " The hypothesis 

 of a late palaeozoic or early mesozoic mid-Pacific continent (upon the sunken heights 

 of which the present island-masses, volcanic or coral, have been superposed) is 

 advanced to account for the constitution of Polynesian land-snail faunas, which are 

 shown to be (l) nearly homogeneous over vast areas, (2) composed of ancient types, 

 wi'.h no admixture of the great series of modern families, and (3) not derivable from 

 any tertiary or modern continental fauna or faunas in the sense Atlantic island 

 faunas have been derived. The mollusca, land and marine, supply no evidence that 

 this Pacific continent was ever connected with or faunally affected by the Americas, 

 but emphatically deny any such connection." 



Dupuis, P. et Putzeys. — Diagnosis de quelques coquilles nouvelles provenant 

 de I'etat independant du Congo. Ann. Soc. roy. Malac. Belgique, 1900, T. 

 XXXV, pp. xii — xix, 17 figs. 



The new species are Ganomidos fraterculus, Perideriopsis fallsensis, P. moula- 

 ensis, Mclania ponthiervillensis and var. spoliata, M. nyangwccnsis, M. depravata, 

 M. nsendweensis, M, soror, M. consobrina, and M. kinsJiassaensis. 



Colling'e, Walter E. — On the Anatomy of certain Agnathous Pulmonate MoUusks. 

 Ann. and Mag. N. H., 1901 (s. 7), vol. vii, pp. 65 — 73. pis. i— ii. 



The species described are Rhytida grecnwoodi, Gray, Paryjihanta hoclistetteri, 

 Pfr., P. edivardi, Suter, and Schizoglossa novoscclandica (Pfr.), em. Hedley. 



Andreae, A. — Landschnecken aus Central-und Ostasien. Mitth. a. d. Roem. - 

 Mus., Hildesheim, 1900, nr. 12, pp. I — 14, I Taf. u. 2 figs. 



