Paper, 'Observations on the natural affinities and classification of Gasteropoda [Gastropoda]' by John Denis Macdonald
Reference number: AP/39/15
Date: May 1856

Description
Macdonald 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'.
- Reference number
- AP/39/15
- Earliest possible date
- May 1856
- Physical description
- Ink and graphite pencil on paper
- Page extent
- 23 pages
- Format
- Manuscript
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Citation
John Denis Macdonald, Paper, 'Observations on the natural affinities and classification of Gasteropoda [Gastropoda]' by John Denis Macdonald, May 1856, AP/39/15, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_39_15/paper-observations-on-the-natural-affinities-and-classification-of-gasteropoda-gastropoda-by-john-denis-macdonald, accessed on 10 February 2025
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Related Publications
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I. Observations on the natural affinities and classification of gasteropoda External link, opens in new tab.
Date: 31st December 1857
DOI: 10.1098/rspl.1856.0101
Hierarchy
This item is part of:
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Archived papers: volume 39, scientific papers submitted the Royal Society unpublished or abstracted, 1856-1857
1856-1857 Reference number: AP/39
Related Fellows
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John Denis Macdonald
Author -
Henry Mangles Denham
Communicator
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Dates: 1768-1989
The 'Archived Papers' collection is comprised of original manuscript scientific papers and letters submitted to the Royal Society which remained unpublished or were abstracted in the journal 'Proceedings of the Royal Society' published from 1830 onwards.View collection