138 JOURNAL OF CONCHOLOGY. 



PROPOSED SYSTEM OF CONCHOLOGICAL 

 LOCALITY-RECORDS. 



By WM. DENISON ROEBUCK. 



(Read before the Conchological Society.) 



The study of geographical distribution is now fully recog- 

 nized as one of great importance, especially as looked upon from 

 the stand-point of the most recent developments of scientific 

 research. There will, therefore, I think, need no words from me 

 to demonstrate its value. 



But it seems to me that all generalizations in this direction 

 should — to ensure their full value being secured — be founded 

 upon a basis sufficiently broad and sufficiently accurate to warrant 

 the conclusions which we draw. Any suggestions, then, that 

 would tend to secure these indispensible requirements will, I 

 believe, receive from the Conchological Society careful study and 

 earnest attention. 



Having lately seen something of the working of the Botanical 

 Record Club, I thought a series of suggestions based upon its 

 rules and practice, more especially with respect to the crypto- 

 gamic portion of Botanical science, would be of service to 

 conchologists. 



The object of the Club is to collect reliable data for ascer- 

 taining the range and distribution of plants, and the elimination 

 of every possible source of error while doing so. The first 

 object they attain by publishing in their reports a series of county 

 floras, and the elimination of error they secure by making it a 

 stringent and inviolable rule that every species in the lists shall 

 be vouched for by a specimen sufliciently good to permit of the 

 identification of the species or variety. 



There is not the slightest doubt that errors creep into 



