CURRENT LITERATURE. 3 1 



The author enumerates 65 species, of which the following species and 

 varieties are new : Mari^iiiclla i^entiesi, Clancuhis gemiesi, Pinna coclilcaris, 

 Bastcroiia (Anisodoiiia)calecionica, P. Fisch. v. (ijibonticnsis, Ccrithinin cacnilcinii, 

 Sby. V. minima, Fisch. et Vignal, C. ycrhiiiyi, E. A. Sm. v. djihonticnsis F". et 

 v., C. pctrosniii, Wood, w gcnticsi, F. et V. Emended descriptions and figures are 

 given of Rissoina bcrthoUcti, Aud., and R. rissoi, Aud. 



B0UVieP» E. L. et Fischer, H. — Sur l' organisation mterne du Plcnroioiuaria 

 hcyrichii. Hilg. Compt. Rendus, 1901, vol. cxxxii., pp. 845 — 847. 



Continuing their studies upon this interesting mollusc, the authors deal in 

 the present paper with the digestive tract and nervous system. The formei- in 

 general resembles that of other Diotocardia, but it is characterised by a number 

 of peculiar twists, and buccal and oesophageal pouches of a very primitive 

 nature. The hind part of the intestine has a remarkable branch, which extends 

 forward and lies at the side of the oesophagus. In the main the nervous 

 system agrees with that of P. quoyaua, the essential characters are : (i.) The 

 absence of all differentiation in the pallial ganglia, and the concrescence of 

 pedal and pallial cords, as in Chiiovidae ; (ii.) the origin of the visceral com- 

 missure on the cerebro-pallial connectives, and not, as in other Diotocardia, on 

 the ganglionated pallial cords ; (iii.) the development of a very large ganglion 

 at the origin of the osphradial cord, representing, in part, the point of origin of 

 the pallial nerves ; (iv.) the very feeble development of the secondary' pallial 

 nerves ; and (v.) the strong development of the primary pallial nerves. 



Collinge, Walter E. — On a further Collection of South African Slugs, with a 

 Check-list of known Species. Ann. S. My. Mus., 1901, vol. ii., pp. 229 — 

 236, pi. xiv. 



In this interesting paper we find much new information about the peculiar 

 genus Oopclfa, with excellent illustrations. The little-known 0. aicrriiiia (Gray) 

 is re-described, and 0. polypiindafa is proposed as a new species, making Ihe 

 fifth species of the genus. The OopcHinac are ignored in Pilsbry's (i8g<'-) paper 

 on the phylogeny of the Arionidac, and the author of the present paper does not 

 inform us how he would place them in the Pilsbryan scheme ; it is to be 

 presumed that something on this subject will be forthcoming later, as our 

 author must certainlj' have had it under consideration. We should suppose tliat 

 Oopclia might be the end of a series of forms diverging from Avion, and it is 

 interesting to speculate on the possibility of several of the links of the chain 

 being still extant in the vast regions of Africa so-far unexplored for slugs. 



A new Apcra (A.purccUi) from Table Mountain is described and illustrated. 

 We wonder that such an interesting animal should so long have been over- 

 looked in this locality. The Cape forms of Lima.v maximns and Ainalia 

 gagatcs are found to differ somewhat from European examples. It is of much 

 interest to inquire whether (as the present writer is quite willing to suppose) 

 these differences may have arisen since the introduction of the slugs into South 

 Africa. If so, we have proof of the rapidity of evolution under suitable condi- 

 tions. We may recall in this connection that Allen and Chapman (1897) have 

 had the courage to describe and name a new subspecies of Mns mnscnhis from 

 Jalapa, Mexico ; this animal is of course the descendant of mice introduced by 

 man, no true Mus existing in .\merica except through introduction. 



In the Check-list 28 S. African slugs are catalogued, but some of these are 

 very imperfectly known. ^^ Urocydns" liraiissianiis is almost certainly not of 



