PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 1 25 



Eastern, to Cape Ilatteras on the Western side. This boundary is adopted 

 as perhaps the best to embrace the Arctic and Temperate regions, and at 

 the same time to exclude the tropical animals of the Gulf of Mexico. The 

 entire area of the Mediterranean is of course included. With a view to a 

 greater knowledge of the distribution of the Arctic and Circumpolar Fauna, 

 he has also procured Mollusca from the Arctic and North Temperate portion 

 of the Pacific, especially from Behring Strait and the Arctic coasts of Asia. 

 The collections are arranged on the plan adopted by Dr. Paul Fischer in his 

 ' Manuel de Conchyliologie, ' and in the nomenclature of genera and species 

 Dr. Westerlund's monograph is followed, except for the Mollusca of the 

 Madeiran Province (not included in Westerlund), where the work of Wollas- 

 ton has been used. 



Dr. Norman stated that although he has closely followed the nomen- 

 clature of the most recent work, that of Westerlund, he must not be supposed 

 to acquiesce in it, and protests most strongly against the extraordinary 

 multiplication of names due to Continental authors. In no other class of 

 animals has ' hair-splitting ' been carried out to so mischievous and absurd 

 an extent, and it would involve the study of a lifetime, and intimate 

 acquaintance with all the so-called species to unravel the gordian knots 

 which have been tied. He considers that a great gain would be achieved 

 for science if able conchologists would take up special groups, and by a 

 careful study of the forms therein described, synonymize them and reduce 

 the number of species within approximately correct limits. 



Dr. Norman's collection of Land Shells owes its origin to the purchase 

 of the well-known European collection of the late Dr. Tiberi, of Naples, 

 which, while good generally, was especially rich in South European forms, 

 and in types received from describers, and has since been largely increased, 

 so that at the present time it contains more than twice as many forms as 

 were in the Tiberian collection. 



The marine collection has chiefly been acquired during many dredging 

 expeditions, in company with the late Dr. Jeffreys, by Dr. Norman himself, 

 and includes numerous specimens received from Sars, Loven, Nordenskjiold, 

 and others. The collection of Cephalopoda is extensive, and some of the 

 specimens are remarkably fine. They are kept in a large iron house which 

 he has had erected in the garden, and in which he also keeps all his spirit 

 specimens of Zoophytes, Crustacea, etc. There is a fine series of Pteropoda 

 and Opisthobranchs (mostly in spirit). Especially noticeable were some 

 specimens of Akera btdlata var. gigantea Norm., and Umbrella niedife?'- 

 ranea. Cariuaria, Firolida, and Ptcroirachia were beautifully preserved 

 with the animals nicely shown. 



There is only one cone — Conns /iiedifcrraiieits Brug., with five varieties, 

 in the collection. Clalhurella, Mangelia, Bela, etc., are represented hy many 

 species from various localities. Of the rare Halia priannis from Cadiz there 

 are three nice specimens, and four species of Alitra. 



There is a nice series of Voluta/iiitra grcenlandica, and also of Troschelia 

 berniciensis, a fine set of VoUitopsis nofvtgica, and yitmala tiirtoni, the latter 

 quite perfect, and pointed out as of special interest from having been taken 



