177 



On motion of Dr. Gould, it was voted, — 



That a Memorial of his Life would have an important influence on 

 the interests of Science ; and that Rev. R. C. Waterston be re- 

 quested to prepare such a Memorial, with a view to its publication 

 under the auspices of the Society, if agreeable to his family. 



Professor Rogers read a letter from Joshua Bates, Esq., of 

 London, presenting to the Society a cast of the Megatherium 

 in the British Museum. The thanks of the Society were 

 voted for this valuable donation. 



Mr. W. G. Binney exhibited a map of ISTorth America 

 north of the Rio Grande, illustrative of the distribution of 

 the Land Shells, and made the following remarks thereon : — 



As regards the geographical distribution of the terrestrial MoUusks 

 of North America, judging from the very limited material at our dis- 

 posal, there appear to be three distinct Provinces, which are again 

 subdivided into Regions. These are shown in the following table : — 



I. The Pacific Province, comprising a narrow strip between the 

 Sierra Nevada and the Pacific Ocean, extending through aU of our 

 Pacific States. 



n. The Central Province, extending from the Sierra Nevada to the 

 most eastern range of the Rocky Mountains and thence to the Rio 

 Grande. 



HI. The Eastern Province, comprising the remaining portions of 

 the continent, and subdivided into, — 



(a.) The Northern Region, bounded on the south by a very irregu- 

 lar line, apparently commencing at the Atlantic Ocean, running 

 along Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River to the AUeghanies, 

 then along that chain north-easterly to Lake Champlain, thence 

 south-westerly through the chain of great lakes, then westerly to 

 the mountains. Its western boundaries are unknown north of 50°. 



(&.) The Interior Region, stretching from the last-named to the 

 alluvial regions of the Atlantic and Gulf, and bounded westerly by 

 the Rocky Mountains. It includes also within its borders the distinct 

 subregion of the Cumberland tableland. 



(c.) The Southern Region, comprising the whole alluvial region to 

 the Rio Grande, and including two very distinct subregions, the 

 Texan and Floridan. 



The number of species found in these several Provinces and Re- 

 gions, the number of individuals in each, and many other interesting 

 questions, will form the subject of a future paper. 



PKOCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. — VOL. IX. 12 AFKIL, 1863 



