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Show 1883.] DR. O. BOETTGER ON NEW CLAUSILLE. 325 so that from some few small islands only, viz. from the Greek islands Schiza, Cerigotto, Spetsse, Hydra, Makronisi, Petali, Skopelo, Chilodromi and its neighbour islands, and from Giura, Serpho, Polykandro, and Sikono, and from the little islands between Nio, Naxia, and Amurgo, species of Clausilia have not yet been found. Much less known are the islands of the coast of Asia Minor, where the islands of Thaso, Samothraki, Imbro, Limni, Tenedo, Hagiostrati, Psara, Furni, Patmo, and all the islands of the Mendelia Gulf, Nisyro and all the islands of the Symi Gulf, lastly the Tanni and Kamila islands, have not yet disclosed any one of their doubtless numerous forms of this genus. I am greatly indebted to Miss Josephine Thiesse, of Chalkis, island of Euboea, who for several years has kindly offered me her new treasures in Greek Clausilia for publication, and especially to Vice-Admiral T. Spratt, R.N., who has opened to me his rich collection for this paper. The collection of these interesting little shells was commenced about forty years ago by Admiral Spratt, when Edward Forbes became the naturalist of H.M.S. 'Beacon,' in which ship he was employed on the survey of the Grecian archipelago. Forbes's genial nature as well as example stimulated the little taste for natural history the Admiral (then a Lieutenant) previously possessed, and induced him to collect fossils and shells. When they were companions together afterwards in exploring Lycia, and also in several trips amongst the Greek islands, the little Clausilia: came frequently into notice, from their abundance in some localities, and from being the only land-shells found alive upon the rocky heights and cliffs during the hot and arid summers of the .ZEgean. From being thus so conspicuous, and also from showing great varieties of form, they became special favourites of the collector after Forbes returned to England. Thus from mountain-tops and lower gorges, from large and small islands, they were assiduously sought for as opportunities offered, and were collected as experience showed the best side of the mountain or particular rock to look for them, and whether on its surface or under stones only, as chiefly occurs with the brown species. Admiral Spratt's collection of Clausilia consequently amounts to more than 100 forms from nearly as many different localities, of which I have seen examples of the greater portion. About half this collection was formed before the year 1848; and of these, through Edward Forbes and Mr. H. Cuming, to whom sets were sent, the most part, but not all, were submitted to the late Dr. Louis Pfeiffer, of Cassel, for examination. Dr. Pfeiffer found about thirty of them to be new species, and described them in the 'Proceedings ' of this Society. As regards the remainder of the collection, formed between 1852 and 1864, the loss of his fellow-traveller aud friend before his return to England in the latter year so damped Admiral Spratt's interest in his collections, that the Clausilice and other specimens have |
