Record

Reference numberAP/39/15
LevelFile
TitlePaper, 'Observations on the natural affinities and classification of Gasteropoda [Gastropoda]' by John Denis Macdonald
DateMay 1856
DescriptionMacdonald describes his anatomical investigation of Gastropoda identified in the 'Feejee Islands' [Fiji], with the view of discovering such indications of affinity in the details of structure as might serve as a basis for a natural arrangement of the order. After pointing out objections to the foundation of primary divisions among the Gastropoda on characters derived from the shell or from modifications of the respiratory organs, Macdonald observes in respect of the value of sexual characters, that when the distinguishing features of a class are once satisfactorily determined, and this contains forms in which the sexes are either separate, or combined in the individuals, no other characters can be of greater importance in establishing primary divisions. As a means of further subdivision according to natural affinities, he suggests distinctive characters derivable from the auditory sacs and concretions, and from the oral, lingual and gastric dental organs.

Annotations in pencil throughout. Includes two pages of anatomical drawings of Gastropoda.

Subject: Zoology / Malacology

Received 13 January 1857. Communicated by Captain [Henry Mangles] Denham.

A version of this paper was published in volume 8 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'Observations on the natural affinities and classification of gasteropoda'.
Extent23p
FormatManuscript
Physical descriptionInk and graphite pencil on paper
Digital imagesView item on Science in the Making
Access statusOpen
Related materialDOI: 10.1098/rspl.1856.0101
Fellows associated with this archive
CodeNameDates
NA3682Macdonald; Sir; John Denis (1826 - 1908)1826 - 1908
NA6653Denham; Sir; Henry Mangles (1800 - 1887)1800 - 1887
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