1870.] 403 



On the Land Shells of Bourbon, with descriptions of a few 



NEW SPECIES, — llj G-EOFFREY N E V I L L, 0. M. Z. 8. 



[Received and read 7th September, 1870.] 



The described land shells of Bourbon, or La Keunion, are far 

 fewer in number than those of its sister Island. This can be ac- 

 counted for, by the great difficulties the collector has to encounter 

 in the mountainous districts, — always the most prolific, owing to the 

 great height of the mountains, which are at the same time ex- 

 tremely rugged and precipitous ; — secondly, by the greater part of 

 the Island which is under cultivation being almost devoid of the 

 deep, well-wooded ravines and small hills, rising abruptly from 

 the table-land, which form such a characteristic feature of the 

 present Mauritian scenery and still enable the naturalist, through- 

 out that Island, to examine at his ease, at least some trace of the 

 original fauna and flora. I have not the least doubt that in the 

 centre of Bourbon, scarcely ever visited by any naturalist, on the 

 slopes and plateaux of the almost unexplored lofty mountains, — 

 in whose most inaccessible parts, descendants of the old Maroons 

 are still said to exist in a perfectly wild and savage state, — 

 many very interesting new species and even perhaps genera are yet 

 to be found. I much regret not having had time to explore Cilaos, 

 Plaine des Palmistes and the district round the still active volcano, 

 all three evidently offering a rich field to the naturalist ; unfor- 

 tunately my time was limited in the walking tour which I made 

 round the Island. I now give a list, with a few remarks attached, 

 of all the species which, as far as I am aware, have as yet been 

 described from Bourbon. 



1 . Helix cojjlattjra, F e r., Prod. 48. {Nanina apud A 1 b e r s.) 

 This is, as far as I can remember, a true Helix and not a Nani- 

 na ; unfortunately I did not make any note on this point, when I 

 examined the animal, though I probably should have done so, had 

 it possessed a mucous gland. 



The tentacles are purplish-black, the front of the neck stained 

 dark brown, the posterior part of the animal yellowish -brown, sole 





