Sea-Weeds, Shells and Fossils

by Peter Gray; B. B. Woodward

The object of the young collector should be to obtain examples of as many genera as possible, since a collection in which a great number of genera are represented is far more useful and instructive than one composed of a great many species referable to but few genera. He will also find it very convenient to separate the British Shells from his general collection, sub-dividing them for convenience into "Land and Fresh-water," and "Marine." Of these he should endeavour to get every species, and even variety, making the thing as complete as possible. Or a separate collection may be made of all those kinds which he can find within a certain distance of his own home. A collection of this sort possesses, in addition to its scientific worth, an interest of its own, owing to the local associations that invariably connect themselves with it.

TABLE OF SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT GENERA, SHOWING THE APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF SPECIES BELONGING TO EACH GENUS AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION.

CLASS I.—Cephalopoda.

Order I.—Dibranchiata.

Section A.—Octopoda.

Family.	Genus.	No. of Species.	Distribution.
1.	Argonauta	4	Tropical seas.
2.	Octopus	46	Rocky coasts in temperate and tropical regions.
Section B.—Decapoda.
3.	Loligo	19	Cosmopolitan.
4.	Sepia	30	On all coasts.
5.	Spirula	3	All the warmer seas.
Order II.—Tetrabranchiata
6.	Nautilus	3 or 4	Chinese Seas, Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf.
CLASS II.—Gasteropoda.
Order I.—Prosobranchiata.
Division a.—Siphonostomata.
Family.	Genus.	No. of Species.	Distribution.
1.	Strombus	60	W. Indies, Mediterranean, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific—low water to 10 fathoms.
	Pteroceras	12	India, China.
2.	Murex	180	On all coasts.
	Columbella	200	Sub-tropical regions, in shallow water on stones.
	Mitra	350	Tropical regions, from low water to 80 fathoms.
	Fusus	100	On all coasts.
3.	Buccinum	20	Northern seas, from low water to 140 fathoms.
	Eburna	9	Red Sea, India, Australia, China, Cape of Good Hope.
	Nassa	210	World-wide—low water to 50 fathoms.
	Purpura	140	World-wide—low water to 25 fathoms.
	Harpa	9	Tropical—deep water, sand, muddy bottoms.
	Oliva	117	Sub-tropical—low water to 25 fathoms.
4.	Cassis	34	Tropical regions, in shallow water.
	Dolium	15	Mediterranean, India, China, W. Indies, Brazil, New Guinea, Pacific.
	Triton	100	Temperate and sub-tropical regions, from low water to 50 fathoms.
	Ranella	50	Tropical regions, on rocks and coral-reefs.
	Pyrula	40	Sub-tropical regions, in 17 to 35 fathoms.
5.	Conus	300	Equatorial seas—shallow water to 50 fathoms.
	Pleurotoma	500	Almost world-wide—low water to 100 fathoms.
6.	Voluta	100	On tropical coasts, from the shore to 100 fathoms.
	Cymba	10	West Coast of Africa, Lisbon, Straits of Gibraltar.
	Marginella	90	Mostly tropical.
7.	Cypræa	150	Warmer seas of the globe, on rocks and coral-reefs.
	Ovulum	36	Britain, Mediterranean, W. Indies, China, W. America.
Division b.—Holostomata.
Family.	Genus.	No. of Species.	Distribution.
8.	Natica	90	Arctic to tropical regions, on sandy and gravelly bottoms, from low water to 90 feet.
	Sigaretus	26	E. and W. Indies, China, Peru.
9.	Cancellaria	70	W. Indies, China, S. America, E. Archipelago—low water to 40 fathoms.
10.	Pyramidella	11	W. Indies, Mauritius, Australia, in sandy bays and on shallow mud-banks.
	Odostomia	35	Britain, Mediterranean, and Madeira—low water to 50 fathoms.
	Chemnitzia	70	World-wide—low water to 100 fathoms.
	Eulima	26	Cuba, Norway, Britain, India, Mediterranean, Australia—5 to 90 fathoms.
11.	Solarium	25	Sub-tropical and tropical—widely distributed.
12.	Scalaria	100	World-wide—low water to 100 fathoms.
13.	Cerithium	100	World-wide.
	Potamides	41	Africa and India, in mud of large rivers.
	Aporrhais	3	Labrador, Norway, Britain, Mediterranean—20 to 100 fathoms.
14.	Turritella	50	World-wide—low water to 100 fathoms.
	Vermetus	31	Portugal, Mediterranean, Africa, India.
15.	Melania	160	S. Europe, India, Philippines and Pacific Islands—in rivers.
	Melanopsis	20	Spain, Australia, Asia Minor, New Zealand—in rivers.
16.	Paludina	60	Northern Hemispheres, Africa, India, China, etc.—in lakes and rivers.
	Ampullaria	50	S. America, W. Indies, Africa, India—in lakes and rivers.
17.	Litorina	40	On all shores.
	Rissoa	70	World-wide—in shallow water on sea-weed to 100 fathoms.
18.	Calyptrea	50	World-wide—adherent to rocks, etc.
	Crepidula	40	West Indies, Mediterranean, Cape of Good Hope, Australia.
	Pileopsis	7	Britain, Norway, Mediterranean, E. and W. Indies, Australia.
	Hipponyx	70	W. Indies, Galapagos, Philippines, Australia.
	Phorus	9	W. Indies, India, Javan and Chinese Seas—in deep water.
19.	Turbo	60	On the shores of Tropical seas.
	Phasinella	30	Australia, Pacific, W. Indies, Mediterranean.
	Imperator	20	S. Africa, India, etc.
	Trochus	150	World-wide—from low water to 100 fathoms.
	Rotella	18	India, Philippines, China, New Zealand.
	Stomatella	20	Cape, India, Australia, etc.
20.	Haliotis	75	Britain, Canaries, India, Australia, California—on rocks at low water.
	Stomatia	12	Java, Philippines, Pacific, etc.— under stones at low water.
21.	Ianthina	6	Gregarious in the open seas of the Atlantic and Pacific.
22.	Fissurella	120	World-wide—on rocks from low water to 5 fathoms.
	Emarginula	26	Britain, Norway, Philippines, Australia—from low water to 90 fathoms.
23.	Nerita	116	On the shores of all warm seas.
	Neritina	110	In fresh waters of all warm countries, and in Britain.
	Navicella	24	India, Mauritius, Moluccas, Australia, Pacific—in fresh water, attached to stones.
24.	Patella	100	On all coasts—adhering to stones and rocks.
25.	Dentalium	30	World-wide—buried in mud.
26.	Chiton	200	World-wide—low water to 100 fathoms.
Order II.—Pulmonifera.
Division a.—Inoperculata.
Family.	Genus.	No. of Species.	Distribution.
27.	Helix	1,600 68 650 ┐ ├ ┘	World-wide—on land in moist places.
	Succinea
	Bulimus
	Achatina	120	World-wide—burrowing at roots and bulbs.
	Pupa	236	World-wide—amongst wet moss.
	Clausilia	400	Europe and Asia—in moist spots.
28.	Limax	22	Europe and Canaries—on land in damp localities.
	Testacella	3	S. Europe, Canaries, and Britain— burrowing in gardens.
29.	Oncidium	16	Britain, Red Sea, Mediterranean—on rocks on the seashore.
30.	Limnæa	50	Europe, Madeira, India, China, N. America—in ponds, rivers, lakes, etc.
	Physa	20	America, Europe, S. Africa, India, Philippines—in ponds, rivers, lakes, etc.
	Ancylus	14	Europe, N. and S. America—in ponds, rivers, lakes, etc.
	Planorbis	145	Europe, N. America, India, China—in ponds, rivers, lakes, etc.
31.	Auricula	50	Tropical—in salt marshes.
	Siphonaria	30	World-wide—between high and low water.
Division b.—Operculata.
Family.	Genus.	No. of Species.	Distribution.
32.	Cyclostoma	80	S. Europe, Africa India, Philippines Philippines, New Guinea ┐ ├ —on land. ┘
	Cyclophorus	100
	Pupina	80
33.	Helicina	150	W. Indies, Philippines, Central America, Islands in Pacific—on land.
34.	Acicula	5	Britain, Europe, Vanicoro—on leaves and at roots of grass.
	Geomelania	21	Jamaica—on land.
Order III.—Opisthobranchiata.
Division a.—Tectibranchiata.
Family.	Genus.	No. of Species.	Distribution.
35.	Tornatella	16	Red Sea, Philippines, Japan—in deep water.
36.	Bulla	50	Widely distributed—low water to 30 fathoms.
37.	Aplysia	40	Britain, Norway, W. Indies—low water to 15 fathoms on sea-weed.
38.	Pleurobranchus	20	Britain, Norway, Mediterranean.
Division b.—Nudibranchiata.
39-44.			All shell-less.
Order IV.—Nucleobranchiata.
Family.	Genus.	No. of Species.	Distribution.
45.	Firola	8	Atlantic, Mediterranean.
	Carinaria	5	Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
46.	Atlanta	15	Warmer parts of the Atlantic.
CLASS III.—Pteropoda.
Order I.—Prosobranchiata.
Division a.—Thecosomata.
Family.	Genus.	No. of Species.	Distribution.
1.	Hyalea	19 ┐
	Cleodora	12 ┘	Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean.
2.	Limacina	2	Arctic and Antarctic Seas.
Division b.—Gymnosomata.
3.	Clio, etc.		Shell-less.
CLASS IV.—Lamellibranchiata.
Division a.—Asiphonida.
Family.	Genus.	No. of Species.	Distribution.
1.	Ostrea	100	World-wide—in estuaries, attached.
2.	Anomia	20	India, Australia, China, Ceylon— attached to shells from low water to 100 fathoms.
	Placuna	4	Scinde, North Australia, China—in brackish water.
3.	Pecten	176	World-wide—from 3 to 40 fathoms.
	Lima	20	Norway, Britain, India, Australia—from 1 to 150 fathoms.
	Spondylus	70	Tropical seas—attached to coral-reefs.
4.	Avicula	25	Britain, Mediterranean, India—25 fathoms.
	Perna	18	In tropical seas—attached.
	Pinna	30	United States, Britain, Mediterranean, Australia, Pacific—low water to 60 fathoms.
5.	Mytilus	70	World-wide—between high and low water mark.
	Modiola	70	British and tropical seas—low water to >100 fathoms.
6.	Arca	400	In warm seas—from low water to 200 fathoms.
	Pectunculus	58	West Indies, Britain, New Zealand—from 8 to 60 fathoms.
	Nucula	70	Norway, Japan—from 5 to 100 fathoms.
7.	Trigonia	3	Off the coast of Australia.
8.	Unio	420	World-wide—in fresh waters.
	Anodon	100	North America, Europe, Siberia—in fresh waters.
Division b.—Siphonida.
9.	Chama	50	In tropical seas on coral reefs.
10.	Tridacna	7	Indian and Pacific Oceans, Chinese Seas.
11.	Cardium	200	World-wide—from the shore line to 140 fathoms.
12.	Lucina	70	Tropical and temperate seas—sandy and muddy bottoms—from low water to 200 fathoms.
	Kellia	20	Norway, New Zealand, California—low water to 200 fathoms.
13.	Cyclas	60	Temperate regions—in all fresh waters.
	Cyrena	130	From the Nile and other rivers to China—and in mangrove swamps.
14.	Astarte	20	Mostly Arctic—from 30 to 112 fathoms.
	Crassatella	34	Australia, Philippines, Africa, etc.
15.	Cyprina	1	From Britain to the most northerly point yet reached—from 5 to 80 fathoms.
	Circe	40	Britain, Australia, India, Red Sea—8 to 50 fathoms.
	Isocardia	5	Mediterranean, China, Japan—burrowing in sand.
	Cardita	54	Tropical seas—from shallow water to 150 fathoms.
16.	Venus	176 ┐	World-wide—buried in sand, from low water to 100 fathoms.
	Cytherea	113 ┘
	Artemis	100	Northern to tropical seas—from low water to 100 fathoms.
	Tapes	80	Widely distributed—burrowing in sand, from low water to 100 fathoms.
	Venerupis	20	Britain, Canaries, India, Peru—in crevices of rocks.
17.	Mactra	125	World-wide—burrowing in sand.
	Lutraria	18	Widely distributed—burrowing in sand.
18.	Tellina	300	In all seas—from the shore line to 15 fathoms.
	Psammobia	50	Britain, Pacific and Indian Oceans—from the littoral zone to 100 fathoms.
	Sanguinolaria	20	W. Indies, Australia, Peru.
	Semele	60	Brazil, India, China, etc.
	Donax	68	Norway, Baltic, Britain—in sand near low water mark.
19.	Solen	33	World-wide—burrowing in sand.
	Solecurtus	25	Britain, Africa, Madeira, Mediterranean—burrowing in sand.
20.	Mya	10	North Seas, W. Africa, Philippines, etc.—river mouths from low water to 25 fathoms.
	Corbula	60	United States, Britain, Norway, Mediterranean, W. Africa, China—from 15 to 80 fathoms.
21.	Anatina	50	India, W. Africa, Philippines, New Zealand.
	Thracia	17	Greenland to Canaries and China—from 4 to 120 fathoms.
	Pandora	18	Spitzbergen, Panama, India—from 4 to 110 fathoms, burrowing in sand and mud.
22.	Gastrochæna	10	W. Indies, Britain, Red Sea, Pacific Islands—from shore line to 30 fathoms.
	Saxicava		Arctic Seas, Britain, Mediterranean, Canaries and the Cape—in crevices and boring into limestone and rocks.
	Aspergillum	21	Red Sea, Java, New Zealand—in sand.
23.	Pholas	32	Almost universal—from low water to 25 fathoms.
	Xylophaga	2	Norway, Britain, S. America—boring into floating wood.
	Teredo	14	In tropical seas—from low water to 100 fathoms.

SOME WORKS OF REFERENCE.

Mollusca in General.