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Abstract

THIS work is announced as “supplementary to Messrs. Theobald and Hanley's ‘Conchologia Indica,’” but it is much more than a supplement, and is framed on far more scientific principles. The “Conchologia Indica” was published in 1870; and the editors in their preface say that “after an interval of two or three years it is hoped that materials for a supplement (the malacological portion of which will be edited by Major Godwin-Austen) will be accumulated.” The “Conchologia Indica,” however, is only what it professed to be—“Illustrations of the Land and Freshwater Shells of British India.” The letterpress gives a dry list of species and synonyms, not arranged in classified order, with occasional notes. This is admitted by the editors, who state that they “do not acknowledge the validity of many of these species, but merely illustrate them.” They also state their “regret that the figures of some of the more minute shells are not so well executed as they expected; but lithography is scarcely compatible with sharp definition.” We fully concur in the last remark. Although this is not a review of their work, we cannot help noticing the fact that certain species of freshwater shells belonging to the northern portion of British India, and which are enumerated in the “Conchologia India,” are also natives of Europe. Such are Limnæa auricularia and stagnalis of Linné, L. peregra and truncatula of Müller, and Valvata piscinalis of Miiller; but there is no species of Unio, Anodonta, Sphærium, or Pisidium common to the two regions. The occurrence of the first-named five species in countries so geographically and widely separated, may be partly explained by these species having spread from Siberia, which they likewise inhabit; but the mode of their original distribution from Europe to Siberia, or vice versâ, still remains a problem. If water-fowl or other animals had been instrumental in such distribution, why should not any of the freshwater bivalves, which are likewise European and Siberian, have been similarly transported to British India?

Land and Freshwater Mollusca of India.

Edited by Lieut.-Col. H. H. Godwin-Austen, &c. Part 1. February, 1882. (London: Taylor and Francis.