1869.] The Malacology of Lower Bengal. 87 



and morphological details. Only the shells of newly discovered 

 species will be separately figured, but of all species, as far as they can 

 be procured, representations of the animals, of the dentition, &c, will be 

 given. I shall feel amply rewarded, if I can see that any of my con- 

 chological friends appreciate this course of inquiry ; and I will feel 

 greatly obliged if they would favour me with live specimens of Mol- 

 luscs. During the rains and in the cold weather most of the land 

 shells will survive for 9 and 10 clays in a box with a little moistened 

 moss, a few holes being made in the box for the purpose of ventila- 

 tion. If not procurable alive, specimens in spirit or glycerine* will be 

 also thankfully received. 



I do not wish to give my papers a more extensive title, than the 

 one quoted above, because I as yet have only the hopes to procure 

 those specimens which are within my own reach and that of my 

 collectors, but I trust that the area of my research and examination 

 will gradually obtain a wider range. The first paper will be devoted to 

 the examination of some remarkable Molluscs, for a species of which 

 Dr. F. Buchannan 70 years ago proposed the name Onchidium. \ These 

 animals may be in a certain point regarded as the tropical represent- 

 ants of the slugs, or Limaces, which are generally found only in tem- 

 perate climates. Although I have numerous materials on other groups 

 of Molluscs collected, I have given preference to this one, because the 

 characteristics given of the genus are very deficiently known, and par- 

 tially incorrectly recorded in the present leading works on Conchology. 

 Dr. Buchannan's description of the type species, Onchidium typh<s, 

 is not very clear, neither is it sufficient, and the general belief was, 

 that the species has been lost sight altogether. Nevertheless I find 

 that it was very well known for many years to several of our Indian 

 Conchologists, and it is actually during the rainy season a very common 

 species about Calcutta. 



* Glycerine does admirably for these purposes. It is occasionally advantage- 

 ous to put the animal first in hot water for a few minutes, and after its death in 

 glycerine or spirit, the animal does not shrink afterwards so much as it would 

 when put in glycerine alive. 



f An account of the Onchidium, a new genus of the class of Vermes, found in 

 Bengal, by F. Buchannan, M. D., A. L. S. ; — read June 5th, 1798 ; Transactions 

 Linn. Society, Vol. V., 1800, p. 132. 



