BIBLIOGRAPHY. Bas 
shells. The systematic arrangement and description of the various families, 
genera, species, and varieties, with the interesting and often valuable 
original observations under each species form the bulk of the volume, which 
is altogether practical in its scope and aim, and will be found of great 
service to the practised conchologist, and indispensable to the beginner, as 
Mr. Adams has with conspicuous ability and success compiled with great 
care a series of six elaborate and thoughtfully-arranged synoptical tables, 
to facilitate comparison, and to shew at a glance the characters which dis: 
tinguish the closely-allied species composing those perplexing genera, 477072, 
Flyalinia, Vertigo and Pistdiwm, and also tabulates the differences separating 
the various generic groups of slugs. In addition, the author has with great 
judgment collated and to some extent classified the chief variations to which 
each species is known to be subject, and with a wise discrimination has 
omitted many of the species and varieties which have been described of late 
years. This feature of the book, as shewing a scientific appreciation of the 
differences impressed on the shell by a varying environment, may also be 
viewed as a practical response to the earnest call by all enlightened modern 
students for more precision and accuracy of detail in scientific observations 
generally, and though we may be unable to perceive the bearing or even the 
utility of precision in every branch of the subject of our study, yet we may 
rest assured that the faithful chronicling of observations or even the dis- 
crimination of the chief differences exhibited by the various species, and as a 
necessary convenience their distinction by suitable names, will all contribute 
to the great storehouse of facts, from which important generalizations will 
yet be drawn. Following the systematic portion of the work is a very 
copious and accented glossary of the various scientific and technical terms 
used in the book, and the work is concluded by a comital census of the 
distribution of the various species, as verified by the referees of the society. 
These tables contain under the head of each county or vice-county an 
enumeration of the species actually known to exist therein, and are the 
results of many years’ patient examination of specimens from every part of 
the kingdom. A more expeditious progress of this census is very desirable, 
and it is to be regretted that other competent conchologists do not lend their 
aid to accelerate its completion. In conclusion, we have much pleasure in 
recognizing this work as decidedly the best manual upon the subject, and 
as one which can hardly fail to act as a strong incentive to a more active 
prosecution of the study of our land and freshwater mollusca. 
Journal de Conchyliologie, vol. 43, no. 4 (dated “ter Octobre, 1895,” 
received 3rd Sep., 1896). 
‘Note préliminaire sur le Pterygtoteuthis Giardi, céphalopode nouveau 
recueilli dans de cours de Expédition scientifique du Talisman (1883),” by 
H. FiscHer. ‘Sur les Avca des cotes du Brésil et sur Ja classification du 
genre Arca,” by H. VON IHERING [9 spp., none new, recognised, and 
divided into six sub-genera}. ‘‘ Unionidze nouveaux ou peu connus,” by 
H. DRouE? [Azodonta, 3 n.spp., Unio, 6 n.spp., described]. ‘‘ Note sur 
la distribution géographique du genre Corambe,” by H. FiscHER [Atlantic 
