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BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



(limited to works received by the society's librarian). 



"The Mollusca of Dorsetshire (marine, estuarine, freshwater, and land) and 



the Brachiopoda," by J. C. MANSEL-rLEYDELL. Dorchester, 1898. 



We hail the appearance of this concise and well-arranged county hand-book 

 with unusual satisfaction. It is, we trust, the pioneer of many similar catalogues, 

 compiled on the plan of our best local floras. It is dedicated to Mr. E. Ruthven 

 Sykes, who has ably'assisted the author in the bibliography and nomenclature, 

 adding much to the value of the work. 



We should, however, like to take the opportunity of enquiring about one or 

 two knotty points, on which it might be well to invite discussion. 



Are adjectival names, e.g., Polita, Vitrea, Retitsa, Arctica, even though upheld 

 by the law of priority, to be allowed to stand, or does their retention not violate one 

 of the primary canons of nomenclature ? 



Is not Pyramidula Fitz. too near Pyramidella Lam. ? Is not Aula Brug., 

 1789, antedated by Amphiperas Gronov., 1781 ; must not Aporr/iais Aldrov. (red. 

 in syn.) fall before Chenopus Phil.; and is not Ptychina Phil, far more recent than 

 either Axinus J. Sowb., 1821, or Cryptodon Tnrt, 1822? 



We only note one omission of any importance, that of Vertigo moulinsiana 

 Dup., which was recorded by Mr. R. Standen {J. Cotich., vol. 6, p. 348, 1891), 

 as occurring in 1889-90 at Morden, Dorset, in large quantity. 



One other point : Helix, we note, is rightly sub-divided according to Smith 

 and Pilsbry's views. Why are not certain other genera, e.g., Nassa and Pissoia 

 so treated ? As the author says in his preface, much requires to be done with re- 

 gard to the latter genus, and yet certain sub-genera (or genera) are recognised 

 almost universally, and fairly well defined. 



But all these are only minor points, and which in nowise detract from the value 

 of the work, and from our great admiration of the thoroughness and zeal with which 

 Mr. Mansel-Pleydell has completed his task, again placing under much obligation 

 to him not only the naturalists of Dorsetshire, but of all English counties. 



" Die Opisthobranchier der Sammlung Plate," by R. Bergh [Aplysiopsis 

 juanina, n.g., n.sp., and 11 other nn. spp. from west coast of S. America, 6 pis.]. 



"Check List of non-marine mollusca of South Africa," by J. C. Melvill 

 and J. H. Ponsonby. 



"Variation in the shell of Helix nemoralis, in the Lexington, Va., Colony," 

 by J. Lewis Howe [Reprint from American Naturalist, vol. 32, no. 384, 

 December, 1898]. 



Papers on Nomenclature, by the Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing. 



" ' The most pious priority purist,' on the lobster, the crayfish, and Professor 

 Bell." "The lobster and the crayfish: a reply." "Astacus vindicated as the 

 lobster's genus." " On random publishing and rules of priority." "Remarks on 

 the proposed international code." 



The Nautilus, vol. 12, nos. 6-10, Oct., 1898-Feb., 1899. 



"A new Sp/iariu»i" [S. lilycashense Joliet], by F. C. Baker. "Description 

 of a new species of Olivella" [O. blanesi, Cardenas, Cuba], by John Ford. " An 

 interrogation in regard to Septifer bifurcatus Rve. and Mytilus bifurcatus Conrad " 

 [inconstancy of septum renders generic diagnosis uncertain], by Mrs. M. B. 

 Williamson. " Note on Septifer bifurcatus Conrad" [gives diagnostic char- 



