Tom Irbdale. 
the East Indies rather than with that of the adjacent territories. These 
are peculiar Ilelieids, and no Bothriembryoutids occur save as strag'g'lers 
into the southern point. There is no He.limrion and no Rhytidid while the 
so-called Chloritids are peculiar, and two Microcysluls occur. These two 
faunulao are vei'y peculiar in their composition, and the third is that of 
the Contralian Area, known as the Eremian or Eyrean Eaunula, an intrusive 
series. This faimula ranges across the whole of the centre of zVustralia and 
runs into the south-west, meeting' members of the Autoehthonian Eaunula. It 
fui'thei' readies the coast to the north of the Leeuwiuian Area, but so far it 
has not been I'eeogiiised in eouneetiou with the Caurine Eaunula. This inland 
area of Western Australia has not been explored for molhises so that 
probably many species exi.st. While those may be related to the known mem- 
bers of the Eremian Eaunula it is possible that the novelties may oiler shells 
of ditfereut form. 
Possibly ihe vegetation will offer most assistance and iu this respect “The 
Soils of Australia in relation to Yegetatioii and Climate” (Commonwealth 
C.S.I.H. Bulletin Xo. .12, 1931) by Prescott is woi'thy of intensive study. 
Examination of the vegetation ma];) therein included suggests that the groups 
of Bothriembryoiitid molluscs are distributed in aecordaiiee with the i 
botanical data. i 
The following account as to the rainfall, the mo.st important item in the ■ 
life history of a snail, is taken from an ollieial source. The rainfall varies 
throughout the South-West division, ranging from an annual average of 
10 inches in the heavily timbered portions of the coastal districts to 18 inches 
at Geraldton and nearly 10 indies at Yalgoo, from .36 inches at Albany to 
14 indies at lsraeli((> Bay. and from 44 inches in Ihe Darling Ranges to 
21 at Toodyay, 16 at Xortham, and 10 at Southern Cross. A similar diminu- 
tion oeenrs eastward of Bunhury, starting with a register of .37 inches. The 
climatic conditions are. vastly different in the tropical parts of Western Aus- 
tralia. Tleat'y tropical rains fall from the end of Xovember lo the end of 
Dlardi, with rarely a wet day during the rest of the year. For instance the 
averag(‘ at Wyndhani is nearly 27 indies of which 24H fall in Xovember to 
March, another D ■> in October and Ajiril, tlie total from Dlay to Septcinher 
inclusive being less than 1 inch. On the other hand that of Perth is only 
.34 indies, Decemher, .lainiarv', February averaging nearly Vo-ineh each 
month, April and May nearly 1 inch each while IMay, ■Tune, July and Aug’ust 
liave from & to 7 indies each month. The rainfall at Albany is a little 
lighter in the winter months, but a little heavier in the slimmer, totalling a 
little more Hiaii 39 indies in the year. In this coiinedioii it may he recorded 
that ai)])arently most lYestern Anstralian snails develop a strong epiphragm 
for use during the long dry spiells. 
1 have long hoped to jirovide a ground work for .stmleiils of zVustraliaii 
land-shells as these are very abniidaiit, varied in form and scientifically very 
valuable. To this end I have iinblished A Basie List of the Band Mollnsea of 
Australia in the Australian Zoologist ( Yol. YIIT., pj). 287-334, Dlch 12, 19.37; 
Yol. IX., pp. 1-39, pis. I.-IIB, Xov. 12, 1937; and Yol. TX., pp. 83-124, pis. 
Xll.-XIIT., Xov 30, 1938). I later preiiared “An zViinolated Cheek 
List of the Land Shells of South and Central Australia” which has apiicared 
in the South Anstralian Xaturalist (Yol. XVTIT., iiji. 6-.17, |ils. l.-II., Sep- 
tember 30, 1937). The in'esent essay leaves Queensland and New South lYales 
to be as completely treated, and these T have in hand now. X"n section, how- 
ever, iirovides the delightful complications present in the IVestern Anstralian 
