SYKES: concHologV A'r dAwn and close ok nineteenth century. 2i7 



Gucrin-Meneville, no other specialist periodical was published till 

 the " Zeitschrift fiir Malakozoologie " was issued by Menke in 1844, 

 which, with a change of title to "Malakozoologische flatter" in 1854, 

 survived until 1891. In 1850, the most celebrated of all conchological 

 periodicals, the "Journal de Conchyliologie," due to Petit, was issued; 

 it has survived for fifty years, and is we trust still in its youth, the fears 

 that the lamented death of Crosse might cause it to cease having 

 happily been dissipated. Strobel, in 1853 and 1854, published two 

 volumes under the title of " Giornale di Malacologia." 



In 1863 the Societe Royale Malacologique de Belgique was founded, 

 and its "Annales" have regularly appeared. The "American Journal 

 of Conchology," containing many valuable papers, was issued from 

 1865 to 1872. The impulse given to the study in Germany by the 

 "Zeitschrift" led in 1868 to the foundation of the " Malakozoo- 

 logische Gesellschaft," and its " Nachrichtsblatt" has ever since 

 appeared, supplemented from 1874 to 1887 by the "Jahrbiicher." In 

 Italy the " BuUettino Malacologico Italiano" ran from 1868 to 1875, 

 followed by the "BuUettino della Societa Malacologica Italiana," which 

 still appears. Our own Journal dates from 1874. In 1883 there was 

 founded the " Socidt^ Malacologique de France," whose founders 

 appear to have considered that a proper course was " d'^lever au rang 

 sp^cifique toute forme se distinguant de ses voisines au moins par 

 trois caracteres, et de rejeter, a celui de vari^te, toute autre s^parde 

 par un nombre inft^rieur de signes diffdrentiels." They appear to have 

 lost sight of the fact that zoology is not a series of mathematical prob- 

 lems, and that a difference which may in some genera be very 

 important in others will prove of no value. Sculpture on a Helicoid 

 land shell, for instance, is usually of specific value, while on a 

 Melanian it will vary greatly. Pease, again, stated that the colour- 

 pattern on a Nudibranch was often of generic value, while in other 

 groups it may not even be a specific character. The "Bulletins" ran 

 from 1884 to 1891. In 1886 Mr. Averill commenced his "Concho- 

 logists' Exchange," which ceased in 1888, and was succeeded in 1889 

 by the " Nautilus," conducted by Mr. Pilsbry, the only monthly mol- 

 luscan periodical now existing. Mention amongst societies may be 

 made of the "American Association of Conchologists," which has no 

 separate periodical. In 1891 the " Conchologist " was founded, its 

 tide being changed to the "Journal of Malacology " in 1894 ; and in 

 1893 Sowerby's hope of over fifty years before was fulfilled, and the 

 Malacological Society of London was founded and commenced to 

 issue its "Proceedings." 



One curious feature of almost all societies and journals may be 

 pointed out, namely, that whatever their original plan may be, they 

 drift into giving more attention to recent than to fossil molluscs. 



