THE NAUTILUS. A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF CONCHOLOGISTS. VOL. X. MAY, 1896, to APRIL, 1897. PHILADELPHIA : Published by H. A. PILSBRY and C. W. JOHNSON. INDEX TO THE NAUTILUS, VOL X. IXDEX TO TITLES AND SPECIES DESCRIBED. Achatinellida?, description of two new species 31 Agriolimax campestris in the Pecos Valley, N. M. ... 35 Amaatra aurostoma, n. sp 31 American Association of Concliologists 94 Amnicolidse, note on the genera of South American ... 119 Anctus (?) Stearnsianus Pilsbry, n. sp 41 Arion hortensis in green-house, Seattle, Wash 70 Aspergillum giganteum Sowb 23 Bahia, Brazil, list of mollusks collected by Dr. H. von Ihering 121 Buliniiilus hypodon Pilsbry, n. sp 102 Bulinuilus lamellifer Pilsbry, n. sp 103 Bulimus, a new species of 41 Bulimus galericulum Mouss., on the generic position of . 109 Bulimus Hanleyi and B. coronatus, note on 46 Callista varians Hanley in eastern Florida 70 Callistochiton decoratus var. punctocostatus Pilsbry, n. var. 50 Campbell, John H., in memoriam 116 Campeloma decisum Say, reversed 118 Carychium exile, note on 12 Casco Bay Notes 73 Chitons, notes on some West American 49 Chondropoma (Ctenopoma) Bahamense Shutt at Key West 96 Cochlicella ventricosa Drap. near Charleston, S. C. . . . 105 Conrad, Timothy Abbott 110 Cuttle fishes washed ashore in San Pedro Bay 11 Cyrenoidea caloosaensis Dall, n. sp 52 Cyrenoidea floridana (Dall, MS. 1889) n. sp 52 Cyrenoidea, on the American species of 51 IV THE NAUTILUS. Draparnaudia Montrouz 110 Editorial correspondence 53 Endodouta (?) tenuiscripta Ancey, n. sp 90 Ervilia concentrica Gould 26 Ervilia maculosa Dall, n. sp 26 Ervilia nitens (Mont.) Turton 25 Ervilia, the American species of 25 Ervilia subcancellata Smith 26 Extracts from a note book 82 Fossils of Dead Man's Island 140 Fossil shells of San Pedro Bay Goose Fair Brook 15 Helicina plicatula var. christophori Pilsbry, n. var. . . . 118 Helix alternata, influence of environment upon the form and color of 63 Helix nemoralis at Lexington, Va 142 lanthina 133 Isaac Lea Department of Agassiz Association, 10, 33, 43, 56, 68, 81, 92, 106, 112, 123, 140 Ischnoehiton scabricostatus Cpr 49 Land and fresh water shells collected by Dr. "\Ym. H. Rush in Uruguay and Argentina 76 Land mollusca from the rejectamenta of the Rio Grande, N. M 41 Land shells of Quebec City and district, notes on .... 98 Large Decapod 108 Leda caelata Hinds, note on 70 Leda cellulita Dall, n. sp. . .' 1 Leda conceptions Dall, n. sp Leda from the Pacific Coast, new species of 1 Leda leonina Dall, n. sp Leda pontonia Dall Lepyrium Dall, n. gen 15 Lia, note on 47 Limnrea bulimoides Lea resisting drought . 96 Mactra, note on 47 Mactrella Iheringi Dall, n. sp 123 Marine shells on the southern California Coast 56 Melania vatensis Ancey, n. sp 90 Methods, chapter on 43 THE NAUTILUS. V Mexican land shells 59 Moores, Henry, in memoriam 128 Mopalia imporeata Cpr Neobeliscus, n. gen Neritina coccinea Ancey, n. sp Neritina Showalteri Lea, note on New or rare species of marine mollusca recently found in British Columbia 16 New publications received . . . . 2, 23, 35, 47, 60, 70, 120, 131 New Hebrides Archipelago, new shells from the .... 90 Notes and news . . . . . 22, 34, 47, 59, 70, 96, 108, 117, 130 Notes on collection of shells in museums of Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam 61 Notes on Florida mollusca 40 Notes on mollusks of Florida 27 Notes on new species of Amuicolidre collected by Dr. Rush in Uruguay Notes on some Ontario shells 10 Odor of snails • • 84 Olvia, some references to the genus (illustrated) . . . Paludina heterostropha Kirtlaud Partulina Hayseldeni Pisidia, a few notes on • Pisidia, descriptions of new Pisidium fallax Sterki, n. sp Pisidium pauperculum Sterki, n. sp. . . . Pisidium scutellatum Sterki, n. sp Pisidium vesiculare Sterki, n. sp. . . . Plauorbis nautileus L. in America 117, 130, 13J Pomatiopsis Hinkleyi Pilsbry, n. sp Postage on specimens of natural history 127 Potamolithus, new genus 86 Potamolithus bisinuatus n. sp Potamolithus bisinuatus obsoletus, n. var Potamolithus dinochilus n. sp 87 Potamolithus gracilis n.sp Potamolithus gracilis viridis, n. var Potamolithus hidalgoi,n. sp 87 Potamolithus Iheriugi, n. sp 87 Potamolithus lapidum supersulcatus, n. var. . . VI THE NAUTILUS. Potamolithus microthauma n.sp 87 Potamolithus Orbignyi, n.sp 88 Potamolithus Rusbii Pils., n. sp 87 Potamolithus Sykesii, n. sp 88, 89 Pseudopartula Pfr. . . . , 109, 110 Puget Sound, notes on some shells from 68 Punctual conspectum var. pasadense Pilsbry, n. var. ... 21 Pupa, a new form of 143 Purpura lapillus var. umbricata 85 Pyramidula strigosa, young 119 Schmacker B. (obituary) 72 Shells of Maryland 23 Sinistral land shells 104 Snailery, my • 113 Some laud shells of Michigan 84 Spuaeria, a word about 29 Sphyradium (Pupa) edentulum Drap., the systematic posi- tion of 75 Sulcobasis, anatomy of 119 Syuapterpes, n.gen 46 Trachydermon Sharpii Pilsbry, n.sp 50 Tray of shells from Denmark 124 Unionidre, descent and distribution of 5 Unio Askewi Marsh, n.sp., pi. I, figs. 3,4 91, 121 Unio Brimleyi Wright, n. sp 138 Unio Burtchianus Wright, n. sp 137 Unio Kirklandianus Wright, n. sp 136 Unio Lehmanii Wright, n. sp 138 Unios, the muscle scars of 29 Unio Piukstouii Wright, n.sp 136 Unio superioriensis Marsh, n.sp., pi. I, figs. 1, 2, 5 . . . .103, 121 Unios of Illinois River 106 United States Umonidaj, contribution to a knowledge of . 136 Vallonia pulchella in Pittsburgh 143 Van Nostraud, Henry D. (obituary) 93 Vertigo coloradensis and its allies 134 Vitrea cellaria Mull., notes on 142 Weight and size of shells Zonites glaber Stud, and Zonites lucidus Drap. in green- houses, Seattle, Washington 70 INDEX TO CONTRIBUTORS. Ancey, C. F 90, 104 Arnold, Delos 33, 140 Baldwin, D. D 31 Brarlshaw, Mrs. F. M • . . . . 82 Brooke, Mrs. John M 142 Campbell, Mrs. E. D. G 56 Olap|>, Geo. H 143 Cockerell, T. D. A 35.41, 134, 143 Ball, Wm.H 1, 13, 25, 51, 70, 121 Drake, Mrs. Marie 68 Ford, John 3,110, 117 Gardner, A. H 43 Hanham, A. W • .... 98, 130 Henderson. John B 72, 128 Johnson, C. W 53, 61, 128, 144 Keep, Josiah 124 Lemon, James H 10 Lowe, H 11 Marsh, Wm. A 91, 103 Mazyck, Wm. G 105 Newcombe, C. F 16 Olney, Mary P 84, 119 Ormsbee, C. C 13 Pilsbry, H. A 21, 37, 41, 46, 49, 76, 86, 102, 109, 118 Randolph, P. B 70 Roberts, S. Raymond 93 Roper, Edward W 29 Rush, Wm. H 76 Simpson, Charles T 29, 57, 133 Smith, H 84 Soper, MissC 113 Stearns, R. E. C 85 Sterki, Dr. V 8, 20, 64, 75 Streng, L. H 23 Strode, Dr. W. S 106 Taylor, Geo. W 139 Walker, Leon 142 White, Frank A 40 Willcox, Joseph 27 Williamson, Mrs. M. Burton 10,32,112,123 Winkley, Henry W 15, 38, 47, 73 Wright, Berlin'H 5 Wright, S. Hart 136 (vii) THE NAUTILUS. VOL. x. MAY, 1896. No. 1 NEW SPECIES OF LEDA FROM THE PACIFIC COAST. BY WM. H. DALL. The species of Leda from the littoral zone nortli from Panama are not numerous, though individuals are plenty in suitable locali- ties. Leda hamata Cpr. is only known from the Sta. Barbara Islands. Leda ccelata Hinds ranges from Bodega Bay to Lower California in 6 to 60 fms. Leda fossa Baird is known from Bering Sea to Puget Sound. Leda cuneata Sby., from Panama to Mon- terey and also in the Atlantic. Leda minttta Fabr., a circumpolar species, reaches south as far as Puget Sound on the Pacific. Omit- ting some Arctic and abyssal species, the above-mentioned five spe- cies include all hitherto recognized from the western coast of the United States. I am now able to add three well defined species to the list. Leda celhilita n. s. Shell solid, with a dull olive-gray epidermis, moderately convex, with subcentral, not prominent beaks, base profound!}" arcuate, an- terior dorsal slope rounded, posterior straight or slightly concave ; posterior extreme bluntly pointed ; escutcheon large, transversely striate ; lunule not differentiated but similarly striate; sculpture of fine sharp, concentric grooves with wider interspaces, less arcuate than the incremental lines ; chondrophore small, triangular, not projecting, with 22 anterior and 16 posterior hinge teeth on the cardinal border. Height 10-5; diameter 7'2 ; length 15'5 mm. Puget Sound near Port Orchard, dredged by the Young Natural- ists' Society of Seattle, Wash. 2 THE NAUTILUS. This species is less inflated, less polished, with finer grooving and less recurved rostrum than L. ccelata. It is heavier, more inflated, and with a coarser hinge plate and larger teeth than L. confuta Hanley (L. pellu Sby. non Lin.) from Japan. Leda leoniiin n. s. Shell rather thin, compressed, with the low beaks at the anterior third ; base slightly arcuate, anterior end rounded, posterior dorsal slope concave, luuule and escutcheon narrow, elongate, strongly im- pressed, smooth, with the valve margins elevated ; rostrum broadly and a little obliquely truncate ; sculpture of thin sharp concentric lamella? strongest on the rostrum, epidermis dull olive-gray, dehis- cent ; hinge with 22 anterior and 28 posterior teeth, the choudro- phore small, inconspicuous. Height 11 ; length 23'5 ; diameter 5'25 mm. Off Sea Lion Rock, Coast of Washington in 477-559 fathoms, mud, U. S. Fish Commission. This species bears a distant resemblance to L. t> iiiii^n/cntn but cannot be confounded with it. Leda eoneeptionis u. s. Shell elongate, smooth, polished, compressed, with the beaks iu the anterior third ; base arcuate, prominent below the beaks ; ante- rior dorsal slope slightly rounded, posterior slope straight, rostrum narrow, pointed, obliquely truncate, cardinal margin elevated be- tween the halves of the narrow impressed, almost linear lunule and escutcheon ; beaks very small, low, the prodissocouch conspicuous ; hinge with 18 anterior and 33 posterior small and delicate teeth ; the chondrophore narrow, produced posteriorly, interior of the ros- trum without a longitudinal septum. Height 10-5 ; length 27'5 ; diameter 4'5 mm. From Sannakh Islands, Alaska, to the Santa Barbara Channel in 200-500 fathoms, especially off Point Conception, Gala., in 278 fathoms, U. S. Fish Com. This is nearest to L. jilatesxa Dall, from off Rio Janeiro, but that species is smaller, with much fewer teeth and has a strong septal ridge dividing the interior of the rostrum. Ledn jii'iitonia Dall, originally described from 812 fathoms off the Galapagos Islands, has since been dredged iu 822 fathoms ofF San Diego, California, thus adding another to the rapidly increas- ing list of species which occur off the coast of West America in both hemispheres. THE NAUTILUS. SOME REFERENCES TO TE.E GENUS OLIVA. BY JOHN FORD. Of all the marine univalve? tbe Olives are perhaps among the most difficult to define specifically. It is true that the most irregu- lar forms can in some instances be readily determined and properly placed by expert conchologists, for however greatly they may differ from the accepted types, certain characters, proving a common ori- gin, are always perceivable. This is especially the case with such species as 0. injiata Lam., 0. mnura Lam., and 0. peruv'unia Lam. (Fig. 1). To other species, however, many shells have been assigned which are apparently devoid of characters necessary to sustain the rela- tionship claimed for them. In this group may be included O. ara- tieosa Lam., 0. irisans Lam., 0. ispidida Linn., and 0. reticularis Lam. So variable both in form and color patterns are many of the shells assigned to these fourspecies.it is not at all strange that they have been honored with scores of specific names. That a majority of these names are synonymous there is no reason to doubt, but it seems equally apparent that quite a number of the shells, the names of which have been thus subordinated, are really specifically dis- tinct from the types with which they are associated. FIG. 1. FIG. 2. FIG. 3. 0. peruviana Lam. 0. erylhrostoma Lam. 0. porphyria Lam. Among these may be noted 0. ornata Marratt and O. julietta Duclos. which some recent writers have determined to be varieties only, the former of 0. irisans, the latter of 0. unmeosa. If there THE NAUTILUS. is an affinity between these so-called varieties and the species men- tioned, I have failed to discover it, though in possession, perhaps, of every form of the shells in question known to science. Certain writers also claim that the difference between O. irisans and 0. textilinn Lam. is merely varietal. Possibly this may be true ; still, the facts do not appear to favor any such conclusion. On the contrary, the characters exhibited by large numbers of each clearly show them to be specifically distinct. It is just possible that intervening forms linking the two together are known, such for instance, as those uniting the typical 0. iritans with its admitted varieties 0. zelanica Lam., 0. tremulina, Lam., and 0. erythrostoma Lam. (Fig. 2), but if so they are certainly ab- sent from the several large collections of Olives belonging to mem- bers of the American Association of Conchologists and the Phila- delphia Academy of Natural Sciences. These are but a few samples of the difficulties at present barring the way to a thorough com- prehension of the specific relationship of the various members of the genus. The presence of such obstacles, however, should be to the earnest student more of a pleasure than an annoyance, since any effort for their removal will surely give him ample opportunity to exercise both his judgment and powers of observation. Despite the individual vagaries referred to, the genus is a thoroughly at- tractive one, many of the species, indeed, being unsurpassed in FIK. 4 <->. cri/jiltix/iint Ford. FIG. 5. THE NAUTILUS. 0 richness of color and perfection of form by even the more preten- tious members of the genus Cyprsea. Among the most charming of the 55 or 60 accepted species, 0. porphyria Lam. (Fig. 3) may be safely reckoned. These are the "tent shells" of the amateur collector, being so-called from the peculiar patterns which often cover the surface in such profusion as to suggest a large military encampment, including the marquees supposed to be necessary for official comfort, etc. The ground color, on which these tent-like figures appear, is of a deep chocolate hue and exceedingly brilliant. Add to this the graceful form of the shell and we may readily see that the combina- tion presents a picture of the utmost beauty. 0. cn/ptoxpira Ford (Figs. 4, 5) is smaller and less charming in appearance than 0. porphyria, but the callus-covered spire and enamelled body whorl make it a very interesting species. The type of this is in my own collection. There is, however, a fine suite of typical specimens in the Phila. Acad. Nat. Sciences, and, I think, a similar set in the TJ. S. National Museum at Washington. DESCENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF UNIONIDJE. BY BERLIN H. WEIGHT, PENN VAN, N. Y. It must be admitted that the Unionidse are under the same natural laws, and occult forces, that have operated for vast ages on all animal and vegetal life. Fossilized Unios are found in several geological formations, and all living Unios are their descendants, or else they are new creations. But no evidence sustains the theory of successive creations. On the contrary, we behold everywhere successive new but related forms of descent on divergent lines. Nowhere is this astonishing fact better exemplified than in the nu- merous species of Unionidie. But what causes the new forms? If not direct creations — a baseless theory — they are the outcome of changed conditions of life or varying environments. Geographical distribution furnishes such environments. The young fry of the Naiads have a byssus which generally disappears early and with this appendage they can and do attach themselves to the legs of ducks, wading birds and floating objects. They are then easily transported by the semi-annual bird migration, from river to river, and from lake to lake, and eventually to very remote THE JNAUTILU8. regions. New habitats, with new climates, and with changed chemical qualities of new waters, and with new food materials, must disturb the usual and normal lines of descent. A change in the activity of functions of organs, affecting the physiology of the animal must result. Over stimulation of some functions, and de- pressed activity of others, must change the tenor of life, ultimately evolving new shell characters, and minimizing old ones, or even re- ducing them to a rudimentary state — all being effected by change of environment. The dispersion of species is scarcely affected by mountain ranges, but oceans are potential barriers. Distribution eastward or west- ward is very slow, owing to the fact that the migrations of water fowls and birds, is mainly from north to south and vice verxn. The spawn, fry or seeds being carried in these migrations, causes a great mixing of fauna and flora, ou the lines of migration. The paucity of Unionidse west of the 100th meridian is probably due to the fact that since the laying of the cretaceous beds there and the destruction of the once numerous forms of Naiads that swarmed in that region, by the great upheavals of the country- there has not been sufficient time to repopulate. There are signs, however, of adveutive Naiads, even frdm Europe, there. Mari/m-i- tana ([*»/«) margaritifera L. and Anodonia cygnea L. from Europe, neither of them fully divorced from their Old World progenitors, seem to have somehow got a lodgement in California and Oregon, though Drs. Lea and Gould did not detect it. Mr. Simpson suggests that the Californian A. cygnea is the parent of the "tramp" .1. < j-iliur Lea, found from Southern California to Mexico and Central America, where it resents having relatives in Europe. The most common Unios are those most subject to variation, as seen in U. complanatus Sol., whose progeny are clamoring for " sov- erigu rights " and recognition, which some Uniologists grant, and others deny. On the other hand Naiads vigorously resisting varia- tion, such as U. cylindricus Say, and others, have no near relatives, and are generally rare and with very restricted distribution. In living plants, secessions from a given and normal type are readily traceable, and in fossil types, floral and fauual, the grada- tions of differences are well marked. " Connecting links " may be absent, when we seek to trace and run down a species, through the long icons of geologic time. Jiut if a long line of visible road be crossed by a chasm, we cannot resist the conviction that the road was once continuous. THE NAUTILUS. / There are no inherent tendencies in a species to depart from it- self, but when estrangements do occur, they are effected by ulterior causes, natural or artificial. Where color markings are bleached out in mature shells in clear streams, the}1 are retained in the same species in muddy waters. Shells thin and fragile in cold, limeless, pure water, become thicker and coarser in dirty streams. Spinose and verrucose shells are found in rapid waters, with a maximum de- velopment of spines and warts, while the same species in sluggish waters have these characters minimized or even absent. The thin edentate Anodontas of ponds or lakes, need no teeth to keep their valves in place, and hence have none. Nature's argument for an organ or an accessory is the need of it, which is furnished by a pro- cess of slow development the heavier species showing rudimentary teeth. Mr. Darwin, in " The Origin of Species," shows that in a genus having many species, if it has not reached a maximum de- velopment, many other species are *till fm-mhiy in it. This is con- firmed in Unio and Auodonta, and we may reasonably expect new species will be discovered in them. Departures of a Unio from its parent stock, when seen as features of whole colonies, entitle it to specific distinction without hesitation, provided the habitats differ, and to varietal distinction where found in company with or near its next in affinity. On such a basis spe- cific recognition is accorded in other branches of zoology, and also in botany. Plenty of land and marine shells, are specifically sep- arated, only by the most minute or microscopic differences of the shells. We would not advocate such peering minuteness in the UuionidiJe where the tendency to variation is much greater, and where expert comparative anatomists are unable to find distinguish- ing generic or specific differences in the soft parts. In the Unionidae, the constants of nature are few and the differ- entials many. How then shall a rule be formulated by which we can confidently say a given Unio is distinct from another? The hiatus necessary for the founding of a new species must be such an aggregation of differences of character, such an estrangement from its next in affinity, that the gap will be large enough to justify a specific separation of the two. A substantial agreement in the out- line of two Unios may be a fact, and yet other distinctive characters easily and unmistakably separate them. A process of differentia- tion must be applied in uuiology but with extreme care. But just 8 THE NAUTILUS. here we are confronted with the fact that all differential observa- tions are more or less affected with the variable " personal equa- tion " among observers. The measure of conclusions is more or less in error, and the elimination of the variable is not a mathematical possibility. It follows, therefore, that a definition of the word SPE- CIES is almost an impossibility, the judgment of a naturalist being a controlling factor. This is a serious and unalterable fact. The most unselfish and conscientious naturalists will often radically dis- agree on the validity of a species. Others without a surplus of con- science, candor or brains, will go on making species ad libitum, to the end of time. A? a result of such diffusiveness, the birds, fishes, insects, shells, and plants, have generally been named three or four times over. This condition is discreditable to science, and Congresses of scientists are not able to remedy the evil. An epidemic of this sort is raging in Europe, and the " New School " mills are grinding out species by the hundreds. The animus of species mongers is often visible, and not praise- worthy. Posing as scientists, they grasp nomenclature and bandy names about football fashion, with a nonchalance that takes away the breath of astonished beholders and raises the hair on end. The vocation of such gentry is that of the " Bulls and Bears," tearing down what others labored hard to build up, and raising standards which a later litter of "Bears" will demolish. A FEW NOTES ON PISIDIA. BY DR. V. STERKI. It is hoped that our fellow couchologists will not feel chilly when reading this title, but kindly excuse the writer for coining again with Pisidia. The Cycladidcc are in order at present, and the season for collecting is at hand. Many conchologists in the East and West, North ami South of our country are prepared to do vigorous collect- ing, and many others not yet enlisted will probably join them, so that, in all probability, more will be done in this line than at any previous time. And there is no doubt that the results will be highly satisfactory. Almost every sending coming in from the compara- tively few places where collecting has been done so far, brought up some new form or forms which may prove to be new species, or varieties, by comparing them with more materials from other places. THE NAUTILUS. By the perplexing variability of some members of this group, it is too unsafe to establish new species upon a few specimens coming from a single locality. The headquarters of these smallest Bivalves, and so probably of Sphcerium, are the region of our great lakes, which, in fact, seems to be the richest on the globe. And here, too, a serious difficulty is added to the one already lying in the embarassing richness of forms itself. The deep water mussels are decidedly different from the shallow water and shore forms, reduced in size, and less character- istic in shape, striation, color, hinge formation, etc., hence the double difficulty in ascertaining their true relations with the shallow water, river, pond and shore forms on the one hand, and among themselves on the other. Such is the teaching of the materials brought up so far from some deeper places of the lakes, mainly by the efforts of the Michigan Fish Commission, as I understand, upon the encourage- ment of Mr. Bryant Walker. There also is a field for successful work ; the use of the dredge. Another point may a* well be mentioned here. It is an open ques- tion how far Cycladidce are able to exist in brackish water, of rivers and creeks emptying into the sea, and in salt marshes. Conchologists having chances to collect in such places are invited to pay the matter their attention. The researches may be extended to other fresh water mollusks at the same time. A few hints must be added for those collecting and sending Pisiilia (and Sphceria). 1. Not even the smallest specimens should be overlooked, as some forms are very minute, and the young of all are of interest and value. 2. It is not only annoying, but really perplexing and deceptive, to examine lots where a part of the spec- imens had been picked out previously. Thus the larger, mature and characteristic examples of one or several species may be want- ing, while the younger and poorer are represented in the remnants. Whole suites only can afford a true conception of a species, variety or local form. Mixed lots, however, are the most desirable for examination, separated only for considerable differences in size of the specimens. Several conchologists lately have sent living Pisidia, which arrived alive and could be kept alive for some time, observed and examined for the soft parts. I would solicit the sending of more such. They should be packed up with damp moss, or other similar material, in receptacles admitting air, not in tightly corked vials. 10 THE NAUTILUS. ISAAC LEA DEPARTMENT. [Conducted in the interest of the Isaac Lea Conchological Chapter of the Agassiz Associa- tiou bj- its General Secretary, .Mrs. SI. Burton Williamson.] During the first quarter of the year the following new members have been added to the chapter: Mrs. H. A. Zeck, Los Angeles, Cal. ; Mrs. E. H. King, Napa, Cal. ; Mrs. E. A. Lawrence, 2024 E. Second St., Los Angeles, Cal. ; and, in the Juvenile Section, Master James H. Porter, New Wilmington, Pa. The California members will belong to Sections A. and F., the first section "Marine Shells of the West Coast," is under Professor Keep's instruction, and, Section F, " Fossil Shells," is directed by the Hon. Delos Arnold. NOTES ON SOME ONTARIO SHELLS. [Report of Mr. James H. Lemon. From the Transactions of the Isaac Lea Con- chological Chapter for 1895.] During last Summer I was able to do very little work in thecon- chological line, as my time was mostly occupied with botany. This report, therefore, will have to deal with work done in former years. As far as I am aware about 147 species of land and fresh water shells have been found in the Province of Ontario, fifty-five species being land shells, and ninety-two fresh water ; but as very few localities in the Province have been diligently searched it is very probable that in the future several more species will be added to the list. Of the 147 species, quite a number are extremely common all over the Province. Others, although widely distributed, are comparatively rare. Others, again are rather plentiful in some parts, but entirely wanting in other parts. Of our rarer species mention might be made of the following: Selenites concnva Say. This shell has been found in several parts of the Province of Ontario, but nowhere abundantly. I, myself, have found it in Eastern Ontario, and it is reported from around Ottawa. Omji/iii/iiKtfuliyiiiosa Griff'., has been found, as far as I am aware, only near the city of Hamilton, in S. Ontario, and oven there is not a common shell. Omplnilinn inornata Say, has been found around Ottawa, but I have not heard of its being taken elsewhere in the Province. Gastrodonta ! nterte.rta Binn. This shell has not been found, to my knowledge in Eastern Ontario, but several specimens have been THE NAUTILUS. 11 collected around Hamilton. I also collected a few specimens near Brantford. Pyramidula perspectiva Say, is another species which seems to be confined to the southern portion of the province. I have found it around Hamilton, and, also in Brant County, but it is not abundant in either place. Polygyra (Mesodoii) Suyii Binn. has been found in several parts of the Province, but is by no means a common species. I have never been fortunate enough to find any live specimens, but have found dead ones. Polygyra (Triodoptii) pulliata Say, and T. tridentata Say, are both comparatively common in parts of Southern Ontario, I have not heard of their being found in the Northern or Eastern parts. Pupafallax Say, has been found very abundantly around Hamil- ton, especially in sandy places, but I have not found it elsewhere. It is chiefly among our Fresh Water species that additions to the list are to be expected. Ontario abounds in lakes and streams, which when diligently explored will no doubt yield a number of species new to the Province. Many additions may be expected among the Unioniche and Cycladidse (Spkcerum and Pisidium), although over 30 of our 92 Fresh Water species belong to the Unionidse. During the coming summer I hope to have more time to devote to the study of Conchology, and will endeavor to get as complete a list, as possible, of those shells found around Toronto. CUTTLE FISHES WASHED ASHORE IN SAN PEDRO BAY. [Extract from the report of H. Lowe. From the Transactions of the Isaac Lea Con- chological Chapter for 1895]. In June, while I was out collecting one morning, I was surprised to find a number of cuttle fishes which had been washed ashore. They were all dead, excepting one, which I carried home and kept in water for a day or two. The length of the entire mollusk was about four feet, and, weight about twenty pounds. It was covered with a very thin paper-like skin, so thin that the bloodvessels could be seen beneath for it has, unlike most other mollusks, red blood. The head was surmounted by ten arms with powerful suckers, two of these arms were much longer than the rest, being about two feet long. Where the ten arms radiated was the mandible, shaped like, 12 THE NAUTILUS. and much resembling, the beak of a parrot. This mandible was partially enveloped in a tough white muscle and was connected with the digestive organs by a muscular gullet. On each side of the head was a large eye about two inches in a diameter. The crystalline lens, when dried, were clear and bright and closely resembled large solitaries (I have seen the lenses used for settings). The gladius, or internal shell was about eighteen inches long, composed of shining white cartilage, and shaped like a large quill-pen, with the pen point towards the tail. I found about fifteen of these mollusks, but have been unable to identify them and would be pleased if some one could give me the probable name. GENERAL NOTES. NOTE ON CAEYCHIUM EXILE (C. B. ADAMS). — This Jamaican species was originally described in Adams' Contributions to Cou- chology, III, p. 38 (Oct., 1849) as Pupa e.rilis ; and Pfeiffer retains the species in Pupa in the Monographia Heliceorum III, p. 556. It is omitted from the Monographia Auriculaceorum. Bland in Journal de Conchyliologie, 1872, p. 46, first refers the species to Carychium. In this genus the name is preoccupied by H. C. Lea for a species of the United States described in 1841. The Jamaica form will, there- fore, stand C, exile Lea, var. jamtii<'e>isisPi\$l)ry (see Nautilus VIII, p. 63, figs. 15, 16), although some would probably consider it dis- tinct from the United States species. P. exilis Ad., C. exile Bland, becoming a synonym of the variety described by myself. — H. A. P. NEW PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. I. THE UNIONIDJE OF THE OHIO RIVER. II. THE STREPOMA- TIDJE OF THE FALLS OF THE OHIO. — By R. Ellsworth Call, from Proceedings Indiana Academy of Science, No. IV, 1894. Published Nov., 1895. Brief comparative reviews. The writer states that " the literature of the subjects reveals some sixty species " of Union- idre found in the Ohio River. " The Strepomatid molluscan fauna of the Falls of the Ohio is one that is very rich in numbers, but rather poor in species," the total number being but ten species. ON THE OCCURRENCE OF ALECTRYONIA UNGULATA IN S. E. AFRICA WITH A NOTICE OF PREVIOUS RESEARCHES ON THE CRETA- CEOUS CONCHOLOGY OF SOUTH AFRICA.- — By R. Bullen Newton (from the Journal of Conchology, VIII, 136-151, Jan., 1896). BULLETIN OF THE U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, No. 133; CON- TRIBUTIONS TO THE CRETACEOUS PALEONTOLOGY OF THE PACIFIC COAST ; FAUNA OF THE KNOXVILLE BEDS. By T. W. Stanton. This Bulletin, which contains 132 pages and 22 plates, is a very valu- able addition to our knowledge of the Cretaceous Mollusca. Pre- ceding the descriptions of species, is a thorough discussion of the geological features of the region. There are enumerated 77 species of invertebrates, 50 of which are described as new ; all but 7 ot the species are mollusks. THE NAUTILUS. VOL. x. JUNE, 1896. No. 2 NOTE ON NERITINA SHOWALTERI LEA. BY TVM. H. BALL. In February, 1861, Dr. E. R. Showalter of Alabama sent four small shells without opercula or soft parts to Dr. Isaac Lea. They were obtained ten miles above Fort William, Shelby Co., Alabama, from the Coosa River. Three of these specimens are now in the National Museum, with the original labels of Showalter and Lea. The species was described under the name of Neritinu Shownltrri by Dr. Lea, who observed that it was the first instance of the discovery of true freshwater Neritina, like those of Europe, in our southern waters. The note in which the description is embodied was read Feb. 12, 1861 and published in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, vol. xiii, p. 56, March 19, 1861, and also separ- ately. Since that time for many years no notice of the species as collected has come to my knowledge and I began to suspect that Dr. Showalter had been imposed upon by some one who had given him, as obtained from the Coosa River, some specimens of Neritina fluviatilis of Eur- ope, to which these shells bear a marked resemblance, except that they are smaller and without any dark markings upon the olivaceous surface. It seemed very curious that a species of the section Theo- doxus, to which Neritina fluvintilis is now referred, and which is not- ably profuse in individuals when occurring at all, in Europe, should be found only in one small stream in our Southern States and very sparsely there. Of numerous collectors on the Coosa River since 14 THE NAUTILUS. 1865, none seemed to have found it. Dr. Lewis in his Freshwater and Land shells of Alabama (Geol. Sur. Ala. Rep., p. 25, 1876) gives no further information but states that in the absence of the operculum it is uncertain whether it should be referred to Neritella (= Neritina). Binney was uot able to add any further information in his Land and Freshwater shells of North America. I find in one of my books a manuscript note by a very competent conchologist which declares under date of 1884 that this shell is the young of Anculosa ampla Anth. "Under Neritidce in the Manual of Coucho- logy (vol. x, 1888) Mr. Tryou observes that it has not the char- acters of Anculosa, on the contrary it more nearly resembles Nerifniu crepiduluria, though the coloring of the epidermis is more like that of Anculota than in the other fluviatile species of Neritiim. For some years I have used every opportunity to seek further in- formation about this species but without success, until lately Mr. Bryant Walker of Detroit informed me that he bad found, among shells collected on the Cahawba River in Alabama, by Prof. R. E. Call, a single specimen which he had referred to Lea's species. This he was kind enough to send me for examination and on com- parison with the types it proved identical, thus establishing the correctness of the American habitat of the shell which had been so long in doubt. The specimen had also the operculum, which was not that of a Neritina, but the soft parts had been removed. A comparison was then made with the young of all the species of Anculosa in the National collection, which resulted in confirming Mr. Tryon's opinion that it could not be referred to that genus. Dur- ing this search, under the head of " Anculosa atnpla, very young'' were found three additional specimens of the so-called Neritina, received under that name from Dr. Lewis, who in turn had received them from Mr. T. H. Aldrich who had collected them from the Cahawba River, Alabama, thus fixing a second locality for the species. The smallest of Dr. Lewis's specimens fortunately contained the operculum and dried remains of the soft parts which were put in soak and boiled in potash finally revealing an extremely minute rhipidoglossate radula, in general uot unlike that of Neritina but uot like that of any species of Neritina yet figured. The differences are such as would ordinarily be regarded as generic and, taken into consideration with the operculum, it becomes evident that, while the species is related to Neritina (and not to Ancnlosa), a new genus must be instituted to receive it. THE NAUTILUS. 15 Genus LEPYRIUM Dall. Shell neritiniform, small, thin, unicolorate; with a broad smooth- edged pillar lip; the operculum shaped like that of Neritina but without any calcareous layer or projecting processes ; the dentition comprising a very wide rhachidian tooth with a short finely denti- culate cusp, the median denticle hardly larger than the others and on each side of it a small obliquely set lateral, a broad major lateral with finely denticulate short cusp, and a short series of spatulate uncini much longer than the median teeth. Formula x. 2. 1.2.x. Type Lepyriwn Showalteri (Lea, as Neritina), from rivers of the Appalachian drainage in Northeastern Alabama. Types, numbers 29,016 and 102,851, U. S. Nat. Museum. The specimen from which the radula was obtained was very small and the radula so minute, and its long uncini so tangled, that it was impossible to make a complete description or enumeration of them. The rhipidoglossate character, however, was evident, and the form of the cusps of the middle part of the radula could be clearly seen. They differ from those of Neritina by having a very wide and short, finely denticulate rhachidian tooth, instead of a small quadrate one with simple edges ; one instead of two oblique minor laterals ; in the broad and simple quadrate form of the major lateral, and the relatively smaller number and larger size of the uncini. Anculosa has a tsenioglossate radula with the formula 3.1.3, so it is evident that this form is not in any way related to Anculosa. The Oligocene of the Southern United States contains several species of Neritina, but none, so far as known, having a close resem- blance to Lepi/rium ; which is, however, probably an offshoot from Xf ,-itina. The fluviatile fauna of the Coosa region contains several unique or isolated types of mollusks and the present species adds another to the list. THE GOOSE FAIR BROOK. BY REV. HENRY W. WINKLEY. A curious brook, with an odd name, the origin of which I do not know. For some years this stream has formed the boundary be- tween the city of Saco and the town of Old Orchard. The portion of it known to the writer is the last five or six miles of its course. 16 THE NAUTILUS. It flows for a distance througb meadow land in a valley ; here mol- lusca are seldom found. The next portion continues through a val- ley thickly wooded, with alders overhanging the water and covering the narrow belt of marsh ; beyond these the steep banks and upper land are covered with pinegrowth. Land shells occur rarely along this area: Succinea ovalis, I'ntu/n xtriatella, Strobilops labyrinth ica, Zonites exiguus etc., have been found here. The brook has a fine lot of Margaritana margaritifera of large size and fine specimens. Pisidium variabile, abditum and adamgii occur in the mud, the last of these in an area of a few feet, but having some fine examples. Plan orbit and Physa also occur sparingly. The third area is a mile or two of tide marsh ; here one may study the problem of salt and freshwater distribution. The writer gave an afternoon to this work a few days ago with the following result: In the upper quarter of the marsh Pisidium occurs more or less abundantly, and Amnlcola is to be found in great profusion ; following the windings careful siftings were made. Pisidium disappeared after the first quarter of the distance to the sea ; I am quite sure that salt water has little or no influence here. Amnicola was met with where Pisidium had disappeared, but only for a short distance. The portion followin.i: this in the second quarter was entirely wanting in shells, but grad- ually salt water forms showed themselves, i. e., Macoma and Lituriiia. The marsh itself now gives an interesting field of study. Plant life is very rich, but that is not our subject. Pot holes now reveal the presence of multitudes of Liturinella minuta living on the thread- like marine plants. The Goose Fair Brook enters the sea in the middle of a long beach, generally known as Old Orchard beach. Its marine shells are chiefly Litorina littoria and Macoma, the latter often badly eroded. I have seen living specimens with the animal exposed in places where erosion had destroyed the shell. Not far from the shore there must be beds containing Tellina tenera, Cero- ii in nrctfita and others, as specimens are washed up by storms. I trust that these few observations may help to settle the question of the distribution of marine and freshwater forms. At any rate this is one point in the evidence. SOME NEW OR RARE SPECIES OF MARINE MOLLUSCA RECENTLY FOUND IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. The following note may be of interest to collectors of West Coast Mollusca. It adds sixteen species to our fauna not hitherto" reported THE NAUTILUS. 17 from British Columbia (though some have been found in neighbour- ing seas), and four species are new to science. My best thanks are due to Dr. Ball for kindly determining new and doubtful material, and species so identified are marked in the accompanying list by an asterisk. It will be noticed that the range of several Californian species receives a considerable extension, as in the case of Diala marmorea Cpr., Euliina falcata Cpr., Ischnochiton radians Cpr., Lepidopleums rugatus Cpr., Chrysallida cincta Cpr., Phasiane/la pulloides Cpr., Tornatina harpa Ball, and Turbonilla stylina Cpr., etc. Of northern species the southward range is extended of Buccinum plectrum Stimps. (now first established as living in our waters) of Trichotropis borealia Br. & Sby., and of Sipho verkriizeni Kobelt. The two last mentioned species occur at Alert Bay in company with an unusual abundance of boreal and circumpolar species such as Buccinum cyaneum Brug., Bela violacea M. & A., Margarita helicina 0. Fab., CryptobranchiaconcKntrica^lidd., Lepidopleums cancellatus Sby., Orenella deeussata Mont., etc. Of the four new species, three belong to genera new to our waters ; viz. Rissoina, Molleria and Pliasaniella. The fourth species belongs to a subgenus (Mumiola) of Odostomia especially Japanese in its recorded species. Most of the following additions are of small shells, of which, how- ever, we are still far from having on record a normal proportion. The stations quoted in the following lists are arranged in their order passing from the south towards the north. Station 1. Near Victoria, Vancouver Island, in 60 fathoms, fine clean sand. Collected by the Natural History Society of B. C. March 14, 1896. Station 2. Near Alert Bay, Queen Charlotte Sound, northeast of Vancouver Island, 20 fathoms, small gravel. Collector, C. F. N. July, 1895. Station 3. North side of the entrance to Curnshewa Inlet, Queen Charlotte Islands, 10-20 fathoms, small broken shells and sand. Collector, C. F. N. Sept., 1895. Station 4. East end of Skidegate Inlet, Queen Charlotte Islands, sand and mud. Collector, C. F. N. August, 1895. Station 5. Bawson Harbour, west end of Skidegate Inlet, Queen Charlotte Islands, 20 fathoms., broken shells. Collector, C. F. N. Sept., 1895. 18 THE NAUTILUS. Li-it of Species. *Admete CouthouyiJay. Cumshewa Inlet, living. Angulus variegatus Cp. Victoria, Station 1. * Bela Jidicula GId. " variety approximating J3. scalaris Moller." Alert Bay, Station 2. * Bela tabulata Cpr. A remarkably slender variety occurred at Station 2 with the last. * Bela violaeea High. & Ads. Not uncommon at Alert Bay, Station 2. * Bittium quadrifilatum Cpr. At all stations in the Queen Char- lotte Islands. A California!! shell new to B. C. * Buccinum cyaneum Brug., var. Morchianum Fischer. Very fine and plentiful, living at low water near Station 2, Alert Bay. Not reported from any other locality. * Buccinum plectmm Stimpson. Two dead and a few living spec- imens at Station 1, Victoria. Dead specimens have before been recorded since 1878 as ,6. polare var. compadum Dall, and as B. percrassum Dall. It has also been found at Rivers Inlet, B. C. (C. F. N.) and in Queen Charlotte Sound by Dr. G. M. Dawson. Cadulus aberrant Whiteaves. Several specimens at Station 1, Victoria. Only once taken before in B. C. * Caecum crebricinctum Cpr. Living in great abundance at Sta- tion 3, Queen Charlotte Islands. Only a single dead specimen before noted. * Cancellaria modesta Cpr. One dead specimen dredged in 15 fathoms, near Victoria in 1894, the first reported in B. C. It measures 33 mm. in length and is the largest species of its genus here. * Cmiceflitria unalaskenais Dall. A few found at Stations 3 and 5 in the Queen Charlotte Islands. Chryxodomus rectiroatris Cpr. Three living specimens of this rare shell at Station 1, Victoria. Chrysodomu* (Sipho~) Verkruzeid Kobelt. Three young living specimens dredged near Alert Bay by Mr. W. Harvey in 1894. * Orenella decussata Mont. Abundant at Station 2 near Alert Bay. Dentaliiim pretiosum Nuttall. A single living specimen at Station 5, Dawson Harbour, Q. C. I. Dentalium reef in* Cpr. A few living at Station 1, Victoria. Only noted here once before. * Diala marmorea Cpr. At Station 5, Dawson Harbour, Q. C.I. New to these waters. THE NAUTILUS. 19 Doridlum Adt'llce Ball. Clayoquot Sound, B. C., and near Victoria. Taken in 1893, by C. F. N. Not hitherto recorded from B. C. * Eulima falcata Cpr. At Station 2, near Alert Bay. Also taken at low water. A rare California!! shell not on our lists, but prob- ably identical with the form recorded as E. distiirta and E. ineurva. * Halistylus piipoideus Call. Very abundant, living at Station 3, Cumshewa Inlet. Ischnochiton interstinctiis Gld. On rocks at low water near Station 4. A Californian species new to our Province. Sixteen specimens of various markings. Lazaria su.bquadrata Cpr. Dead shells and single valves at Sta- tions 3 and 5 in the Queen Charlotte Islands, the northern limit of this species so far as known. * Leda acuta Conr. A few living and many dead specimens at Stations 3, 4 and 5, Q, C. I. * Leda fossa Baird. A few specimens at Station on 3, Cumshewa Inlet. In 1894 I dredged three living specimens near Victoria. * Lepidopleurus rngntus Cpr. Under rocks at low water near Victoria, April, 1894, C. F. N. * Macoma yoldiformis Cpr. Stations 3 and 4 in the Queen Char- lotte Islands. Mactra falcata. Station 3, Cumshewa Inlet. *Mdlleria Qu.adrce Dall, sp. nov. A few living and dead spec- imens at Station 3, Cumshewa Inlet. * Mumiola tennis Dall, sp. nov. Station 3, with the last. * Odostomia ( Chrysallida) eincta Cpr. In 30 fathoms near Victoria, March, 1896. New to B. C. * Phasianella (Eiicosmia) lurida Dall, sp. nov. Station 5, Skide- gate Channel. Encrusted with a polyzoan. * Phasianella pulloides Cpr. Stations, Dawson Harbour. Ski- degate with the last, and in shell sand from Nootka Sound. * Rissoina Newcombei Dall sp. nov. Station 3, Cumshewa Inlet, Queen Charlotte Islands. * Tellina inflatida Dall. Stations 3 and 4 in the Queen Charlotte Islands. The northern limit so far as known. Tonicella submrmnorea Midd. Not rare at low water at Station 2, Alert Bay, and quite plentiful at Station 4, Skidegate Inlet. * Tornatina harpa Dall. Not rare at Stations 3, 4 and 5, Queen Charlotte Islands. The northern known limit. Trachydermon (Cyanoplax) Rat/mondi Pilsbry. Not rare at Sta- tions 2 and 4, Alert Bay and Skidegate, Q. C. I. 20 THE NAUTILUS. * Triehotropis borealis Br. & Sby. Station 2, Alert Bay. New to this Province. Turbonilla ckocolata Cpr. Both at Stations 2 and 4. *Turbonilla stylina Cpr. Cumshewa Inlet, Q. C. I., at Station 3. A Californian shell, new to B. C. * Turbonilla torquata Glcl. With the last. * Turbonilla tridentata Cpr. At Station 3, Cumshewa Inlet. Though found in Puget Sound many years ago, it has not before been reported from British Columbia. * Venericardia boreal!* Conr. At stations 2 (Alert Bay) and 4, Skidegate Inlet. C. F. NEWCOMBE. DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW PISIDIA. BY DR. V. STERKI. Pis. fallax n. sp. Mussel rather small ; it is of the same type with Pis. compressum Pr. but smaller, more rounded in outline, the upper margin is less strongly curved, not angular, the ridges on the beaks are compara- tively larger and situated less high up ; the striation is finer, crowded, somewhat irregular and sharp; the color commonly green- ish or yellowish-horn in the younger, more yellow in older speci- mens ; the hinge is strong, more regularly curved than in compres- sum, the hinge plate broad, the cardinal tooth of the right valve more oblique, the lateral teeth strongly projecting inward ; nacre more glassy- whitish ; ligament strong. Size: long 3'2, alt. 2'9-3, diam. 2'1. Habitat: Tuscarawas River and Sugar Creek, Ohio. It was first noticed in October and November, 1891, when hun- dreds of specimens were collected, and so every year since, in com- pany with Pis. compressum, crvciatum and punctahnn. Also found in the stomach of the "Buffalo Sucker" (fish) with Pis. cruciutinn and other molluscan shells. It is decidedly and constantly distinct, not a variety or depauperate form of !'!#. <-i>ni/>i-esmiii. The latter has been collected in this vicinity in many places and in very differ- ent forms. Old specimens of J'is. fallax are almost always badly eroded, and covered with a thick, blackish coat, while Pis. compres- sum from the same places, were intact and clean. THE NAUTILUS. 21 Pis. vesicnlare n. sp. Mussel small, ovoid, very inequipartite, somewhat oblique, strongly inflated ; beaks very posterior, moderately prominent ; margins all well rounded, or the scutum forming a very slight angular projec- tion ; color yellowish to brownish-horn ; surface slightly striated, polished, often with a few coarser lines of growth ; shell thiu, trans- lucent ; nacre rather glassy, colorless ; hinge rather small, markedly short; cardinal teeth lamellar, the right moderately curved with its anterior end thicker ; anterior left distinctly directed upward, curved, often angular, posterior oblique, moderately curved ; groove between them narrow and deep ; lateral teeth situated very close to the car- dinals, short, especially those in the left valve abrupt, high ; liga- ment short. Size: long 2'3, alt. 1'9, diam. 1-7 mill. Habitat. Michigan. More than fifteen hundred specimens were seen during the last year, collected at Grand Rapids, Michigan, by Mr. L. H. Streng about ten years ago, and all were remarkably uniform in shape and appearance. Yet I hesitated to announce the form as a uew species, thinking it might be a variety of P. ventricosum Prime. But later it has been seen from various other places, as Lake Michigan, Hess Lake, " Michigan," in one instance named " P. rotuiidatuin," from which it is very different by its beaks situated posteriorly, while in rotundatum they are almost in the middle. P. cesiculare can be mistaken only for P. ventricosum Pr., from which it differs by the following characters : it is longer, less oblique- more regular in form, being more regularly though less inflated, the beaks are much less prominent; the surface shows less coarse and irregular lines of growth. It is somewhat variable in size, measur- ing 2'l-2'7 millimetres in length, and in being slightly more or less inflated. A NEW VARIETY OF PUNCTUM. BY H. A. PILSBRY. Punctual conspectum var. pasadenae n. var. Shell resembling P. conspectum Bid., but more widely and openly nmbilicated, and without spaced riblets, or with them very A>C3^ te LURARY a openly 22 THE NAUTILUS. Light chestnut colored, rather opaque. Contour about that of P. conspectum, the spire very low-conic, apex obtuse. Whorls 84 to 4, convex, separated by impressed sutures, the last more or less descend- ing in front. Umbilicus open, easily showing all the whorls, its width contained 31 to 3J i" diameter of shell. Surface with close, fine, irregular growth-stripe, sometimes showing slight traces of wide- spaced stronger strise, and very densely, minutely spirally striated- Aperture rounded-oval, quite oblique, the lip thin ; columellar mar- gin brought far forward and expanded. Alt. 1'15, diarn. 2 mm. Numerous specimens of this small species were found by Hon. Delos Arnold crawling upon a cement walk in front of his residence in Pasadena, California, and were communicated to the writer by Mrs. Julia E. Campbell. In typical P. conspectum the umbilicus is smaller, contained 4} to 4s times in diameter of base, and the riblets are prominent, although subject to considerable variation. The dentition of the Pasadena shells is similar to that of conspectum. The other species of Pnnc- turn now known from America are P. pi/yinmim var. mbwctarinwm Lea, and P. Randolphii Dall. GENERAL NOTES. PROPOSED BIOLOGICAL STATION. — Professor T. D. A. Cockerell, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, has it in view to found in New Mexico a Biological Station, and health and holiday resort for scientific per- sons, teachers and kindred spirits. Three years experience in this country gives the writer the high- est opinion of the value of the climate for persons in the earlier stages of phthisis ; while the abundance of new and interesting forms of life, especially among the insects, is remarkable. Many inter- esting general problems, such as those of the life-zones, can also be studied in New Mexico to great advantage. A beginning will be made this summer if students can be found. Prof. Cockerell will be glad to hear from any who are interested in the matter, and especially from those who might be inclined to work with him for longer or shorter periods during the present summer. PROFESSOR H. E. SARGENT is now in Deteroit, Michigan (Detroit Museum of Art), engaged in preparing for public exhibition the Stearns collection of Mollusca. THE NAUTILUS. 23 ASPERGILLUM GiGANTEUM Sowb. — This species, the largest of the genus, was figured in Stearns' and Pilsbry's Catalogue of Japan- ese Marine Mollusks, pi. iii, tig. 1. We have lately noticed that it was renamed (in 1889, Le Naturaliste, p. 121) by M. Menegaux, who curiously enough proposes anew the specific name given by Sow- erby in 1888. The specimen is said to be from " les mersde la Chine." PALUDINA HETEROSTROPHA KIRTLAND. — I consider this shell only as an abnormal production of Campeloma decisum Say. Com- paratively few are found here. About ten years ago, I gathered quite a lot of them, and among the young of them which were not delivered yet, I found this abnormal form, and as near as I could guess, I found about one of this form in two or three hundred ; and so came to the conclusion above stated. — L. H. STRENG. SHELLS OF MARYLAND. — In a recent sending of land shells from Cumberland, Maryland, from Mr. Howard Shriver of that place, we find four species not before recorded from the State: Omphalina fuliginosa Griff., 0. inornata Say, Gautrodonta intertexta Binn., and Polygyra pmfunda Say. Tlie latter two are western species, prob- ably at or near their (in this latitude) eastern limit. None of these were recorded in Pilsbry's Mollusks of the Potomac Valley, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1894, p. 11. Polygyra fraudulenia Pils. is a particularly abundant species at Cumberland, and the specimens of Pyramidula alternata are decidedly keeled. NEW PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. ON THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY UNIONID^E FOUND IN THE ST. LAWRENCE AND ATLANTIC DRAINAGE AREAS (AMER. NAT., 1896, p. 379). 2. DESCRIPTIONS OF FOUR NEW TRIASSIC UNIOS FROM THE STAKED PLAINS OF TEXAS. 3. THE CLASSIFICATION AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE PEARLY FRESHWATER MUSSELS (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XVIII, 1896), by Charles T. Simpson. The first of the above papers considers the origin of such Lake and Atlantic drainage forms as Unio liebi, canadensis, borealis, Itippopmis, Anodontafootiana, subangidata, benedictii, undulata, etc., all of which are claimed to be altered Mississippi drainage types, which found their way into the Lake drainage during the period when the lakes drained into the Mississippi, and subsequently trav- elled eastward when the St. Lawrence outlet became established. Their advent is thus about coeval with the Glacial period. Unio i-udl'itus, ochraceus, heterodon, tappanianus and Mary, undulata are believed to be older inhabitants of the eastern country. 24 THE NAUTILUS. The third paper mentioned above is already so condensed that any abstract is difficult to make. It deals with the questions of classifications, mutual relationships of the genera, and geographic distribution. Margaritana is merged in Unio, as the species are believed to have lost the lateral teeth by degeneration or disease. It is an error, however, to give U.margaritifer (nof'margaritiferus") as type of Unio ; and it should be noted that in having a series of small muscle-scars in the middle of the disk, M. mat-gar it ij'era, mon~ fiilnnta, etc., differ from any Unios as well as from the M. undu/atu, rugosa group, which is more properly called Alasmodonta. These groups seem to be as valid genera as CaxtaHna, which Simpson re- tains. Simpson, in common with other recent authors, recognizes two families, Unionidce and Mi/telidce. The former containing gen- era Unio, Anodonta, Prisodon, Tetraplodon, Castaliita, Burtonia, Arconaia, Cristaria, Lepidodexma, (new genus for U. languilati of China), Pseudodon, Leguminaia, Solenaia. Mutelidce contains Muiela, Chelidonopsls, Spatha, I'leiodon, Brazzcea, Glabaris, Ihering- ella, Monocondylwa, Fotsanla, Mycetopoda. Each genus is discussed in a separate paragraph, and a careful reading inclines us to place great reliance upon Mr. Simpson's conclusions. A full synonymy of each genus would have been a useful addition, for there are some generic names not mentioned in the text, probably because they prove to be mere synonyms. The geographic provinces indicated by l/nionidce and Mutdidw are: Palcearctic, including all Europe, Africa north of Sahara (ex- cept the Nile), all northern Asia, and the Pacific drainage of North America. Ethiopian. Oriental, including southern Asia to Japan, Philippines, Malay Archipelago and to the Solomon Is. Anxtrnllitn, Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. Mississippian, the Gulf drainage, spreading to N. C. and Central America. This region is the richest in species in the world. Atlantic, Atlantic drainage from Florida to Labrador. Neotropical, the whole of South America. <'i titrtil American, Panama to Mexico and Cuba. A map presents the areas of distribution graphically. In conclusion Mr. Simpson discusses the geological history of the groups. Students of the Uniones will find this paper crowded with important facts and care- ful reasoning from them, in the main very reliable. Our experience with other groups leads us to believe, however, that more import- ant points will follow an anatomical study of the Uniones than have yet been developed. I -«r -m.m**> <*\ > ^(LIBRARY), -» V -^.a^. THE NAUTILUS. JULY, 1896. No. 3 OX THE AMERICAN SPECIES OF EEVILIA. BY WM. U. BALL. Very little attention seems to have been given to the genus Ervi- tlfi, which is composed of small, rather solid shells which are, in the recent species, frequently brightly colored, concentrically or radially striated or smooth. The soft parts are still unknown though the typ- ical species appears to he common in the West Indies, and the largest known species is found in British and Mediterranean waters. In the forms which are normally concentrically striate or grooved it often happens that some of the specimens have the umbonal portion nearly smooth, the normal sculpture appearing only when the shell is half grown ; there are also light modifications of the outline, coming within the range of individual variation. In examining the recent forms of North America and the West Indies for comparison with the fossils, the following were recognized, though the small size of the shells and their general similarity of form renders it necessary to study them under a magnifier with the greatest care and attention in order to grasp the distinctive features. Ervilia nitens (Mont.) Turtun. This species has the valves somewhat compressed, coarsely, evenly, concentrically grooved, with faint, radial st rial ions on the dorso-posterior surface, both ends somewhat attenuated, the posterior longer and more attenuated, the base evenly arched, the anterior end shorter, higher, with a steeper dorsal slope; the shell rather solid with a robust hinge; the pallial sinus narrow, angular hi 26 THE NAUTILUS. front, and reaching beyond the vertical of the beaks, anteriorly. In general the shell is yellowish or bright pink, with occasional brownish rays. It seems to be confined to the Antilles and the southern Florida Keys. Ervilia subcancellata Smith. Valves much compressed, both ends somewhat attenuated, the base arcuate and prominent in the middle ; the surface concentric- ally striated and covered with fine, distinct, radial strife ; the pallial sinus reaching to the vertical of the beaks, rather wide, anteriorly rounded; shell solid, hinge moderately strong; Ion. 8; alt. 5'5 ; diam. 3 mm. This species is differently shaped, rather more compressed and with a different hinge and pallial sinus from the E. ititens. The specimens I have seen are white or brownish and were obtained at Bermuda by Dr. Goode. Ervilia concentrica Gould. Shell solid, plump, with a robust hinge ; the surface with strong, even, concentric riblets and narrower, even grooves between them ; there are few very faint or no radial strire ; the posterior end is slightly the longer and more attenuated, the anterior shorter and higher; pallial sinus narrow, almost angular in front, just reaching the vertical of the beaks ; the color is generally white, rarely pink- ish or yellowish. This species is common in moderate depths from Cape Hatteras to Key West and Peusacola, Florida. It is smaller and more lozenge shaped than E. nitens. Several specimens from the Mediterranean are in the Jeffreys collection under the name of the young of E. castanea or E. nitens. It is represented in the Postpliocene of North Creek, Little Sarasota Bay, Florida, by a variety less strongly >tii- ated and which seems to form the transition to the Pliocene species. Ervilia maculosa Dall, n. s. Shell almost perfectly oval, very thin, compressed, and almost translucent ; closely, sharply, finely, concentrically striated without radial stria; ; posterior end higher, rounded, longer than the ante- rior; beaks low and calyculate; hinge very feeble; pallial sinus •wide and rounded, falling short of the vertical of the beaks ante- riorly ; surface mottled with brown streaks and patches on a trans- lucent ground. Lon. 4'5 alt. 2'7 mm. This quite distinct form was obtained oft' Cape Lookout, N. Caro- lina in 22 fathoms by the U. S. Fish Commission. It is recognizable THE NAUTILUS. 27 at once by its very oval, compressed aud translucent shell with very fine and sharp concentric groovings. So fur I have not found it in the fossil state. NOTES ON MOLLUSKS OF FLORIDA. BY JOSEPH WILLCOX. In THE NAUTILUS for November, 1894, the writer referred to the habits of many species of mollusks which he observed on the west coast of Florida. The present paper has been written in con- tinuation of the same subject. It is an interesting matter, for personal observation, to witness the persistent and relentless warfare of the molluscan forms upon others of the same family in their quest for food. In the case of the oyster their enemies are not confined to members of the mollusca. In Florida waters they are preyed upon by num- erous enemies which ply their, predaceous vocation during the twelve months of the year. Among the fishes the drum and the sheephead are the chief con- sumers of the oyster ; the former devouring those of moderate size, while the latter confine their attention to the destruction of voung » O oysters. In the vicinity of the oyster beds nearly all the sheephead fish are found with ragged and freshly-cut lips caused by the sharp edges of the young oysters which they break loose from the clusters. So per- sistent are the sheephead, in the destruction of the young oysters, that single individuals of the latter are comparatively rare ; and the survival of the species, in some localities, is, in a great measure, due to their protective habit of living in clusters. Coextensive with the destruction of the oyster by the fishes, refer- red to above, their consumption appears to be as great by their molluscan enemy the Melongena corona. Every oyster bed, on the west coast of Florida, from Cedar Keys to Cape Sable, is infested by these ostneophagi, which persistently prey upon the oysters as the chief article of their diet. Their method of attack and subsequent destruction, from which there is no escape for the victim, is exceedingly ingenious, and is probably not unaccompanied by some measure of discomfort and even pain on the part of the aggressor. 28 THE NAUTILUS. The first effort in tlie assault, on the part of the Melougena, is the insertion of its beak or rostrum between the open valves of the oyster, when the latter is feeding. The valves, of course, are imme- diately closed upon the beak of the assailant, which is round and tough, resembling in form and color a leather shoe-string. At this particular juncture the oyster appears to have the best position in the struggle for life; and if it could maintain its exist- ence, without relaxing its muscles, the Melongena would, in time, starve to death while held in its grasp. The position of affairs just described is probably continued for a long time, until the oyster, exhausted with the strain in the contrac- tion of its muscles, is obliged to open its shells. This is the opportunity which the Melongena has been patiently, or impatient! v, awaiting ; and ils beak is immediately thrust further between the oyster shells. It is only a question of time when the beak of the Melongena reaches the muscular portion of the oyster ; and then the process of devouring it begins. Earlv in the progress of this struggle for life other Melongenaa assemble at the prospective feast, and insert their lieaks between the shells of the oyster, and then await their opportunity for engorge- ment. The writer has picked up an oyster in Little Sarasota Bay, in Florida, from which 14 Melongenas were dangling, suspended by their long beaks, which were held in the closed shells of their victim. A duster of oysters was found, at the same place, between the shells of which were inserted the beaks of '_''_> .Melongenas. The Bigaretus is enabled to destroy the oyster by enveloping it in its folds, and in that manner smothering it. In the same manner the Fulgur jiervi-rsnin kills the oyster by enveloping it in its foot. The Melongenas successfully attack and destroy large specimens of Fulijm- perversum. They crowd on and around the operculnm of the latter, and when it is opened for the admission of water for res- piration, the beaks of the Melongenas are ruthlessly inserted be- tween it and the shell ; and the same method of attack is pursued as in the case of the oyster. It is surprising to see how skillfully the Melongenas can arrange themselves, in order that the greatest number may occupy the space at their disposal at the feast. The writer has seen a Melongena rin-unn devouring a shrimp, and also a Solen amerieanus. THE NAUTILUS. 29 The only mollusk, seen to destroy the Melongena, was a Fascio- /iiria iji'jiudeii which enclosed it in its folds. On one occasion a dead king-crab was found, lying on its back, on which many Faseiolaria tnlipa were crowded and eating it. An abundant food for the Fasciolaria dinfuns is the Vermetus, (Pt-talocoiichus) niyricans, into the tubes of which the former inserts its beak. A WORD ABOUT SPH.ZERIA. BY EDWARD W. ROPER. Among thousands of Sphseria examined during the past year several unique forms have been found. For example, a robust, rounded shell less than one-fourth inch long, with prominent beaks, from near Tallahassee, Florida. This is quite distinct from any species yet seen from the Gulf states. Again a very dark brown shell from southern Ohio, of the group of S. occidentals, but thicker and with more prominent beaks. From an unknown locality came a single specimen resembling a small S. transverxwm but with a less angular outline. Lastly from Minnesota and other neighboring states, may be mentioned a thin, orbicular, gray or light olive shell with calyculate beaks, often regarded as S. truncahim, but probably different from the New England shell described by Linsley. These forms have mostly come from single localities in very small numbers, and in view of the great variation among species in this genus, it would be unsafe to consider them new on such slight evidence. The writer would like correspondence with collectors having unique and doubtful Spbteria in their possession. THE MUSSELS SCARS OF UNIOS. BY CHAS. T. SIMPSON. In some comments on my recent paper on the classification and distribution of the Naiades in THE NAUTILUS for June, 1896, I notice the statement that in having a series of muscle scars in the middle of the disk Mun/aritcnia margaritifera, iiiti//»l*e»sis. In 1830 Isaac Lea described Unio trapezoides in the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, Volume IV, page 69, and called attention to the fact that this species possessed a strongly developed muscle scar near the center of the disk, which he then named the ventral cicatrix. It is present (sometimes double) and well developed in most specimens, feeble in others, or it may be found in one valve and wanting in the other, or absent altogether. The same is true of most of the species of the plicate group of Unios, which are all nearly related; N. multiplicatus, inululiitu*, perji/i<-n- tus, etc., but I have never found these scars in the nearly allied U. xlniitiann-8 Lea, of Georgia, which is so close to U. trapezoides that Call has placed it in the synonymy of that species.1 In V. tm/n-- zoides there may be one or two anterior pedal scars and they are often widely separated. A wonderful degree of variation is also found in the number and position of the dorsal scars of many species of Unios, and in the degree of development of the scars in the pallial line. In Mr. B- H. AV right's new Unio,— U. bursa past or is, from Tennesseee, the pallial line is generally composed of deep, strongly marked scars, to which the mantle is attached ; in Unio ventricosus it is often so faint as to be scarcely discernable. I know of no character more variable and wholly unreliable as a means of classification in the Uriionidce than that of the muscle scars and my studies lead me to believe that it is seldom a mark of even specific value. 'Tr. Acad. Sci. St. Louis, VII, Xo. 1. p. 54. THE NAUTILUS. 31 DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF ACHATINELLIDJE FROM THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. BY D. D. BALDWIN. Partulina Hayseldeni n. sp. Shell sinistral, minutely perforated, rather solid, ovately conical, apex subacute ; surface shining, marked with delicate incremental stria?, and under a lens exhibiting very close, minute, decussating spiral lines ; embryonic whorls faintly cross-lined. Color generally of a uniform reddish-brown ; sometimes the coloring of the middle portion of the whorl shades into white on the apical whorls, and in some examples a white line revolves below the suture. Whorls 5o, slightly convex, narrowly margined above, the last carinated or angulated at the periphery, the angle becoming almost obsolete to- wards the aperture ; suture distinctly impressed and often margined above by the continuation of the peripheral keel. Aperture oblique, subovate, white within with a pinkish tinge ; peristome white, rather obtuse, thickened within, the basal and columellar margins slightly reflexed ; columella terminating in a strong, flexuous, white fold. Length 17i ; diani. 10 mm. Habitat, Island of Lanai. Animal when extended in motion longer than the shell. Mantle slate color with a brown band encircling the outer edge. Foot above and below almost white with a yellowish tinge. Tentacles white tinged with slate. This species is allied to P. semicarinata Newc. which is found in another district of the same island. The latter is a light straw- colored, more conical, and invariably dextral shell. The animals of the two species are somewhat similar, but sufficiently different to warrant the separation. We take pleasure in dedicating this handsome shell to Mr. Walter H. Hayselden, the young naturalist who discovered both it and the following species. Amastra aurostoma n. sp. Shell dextral, imperforate, solid, elongately ovate, spire conical, apex subacute; surface lusterless, striated with somewhat irregular, coarse growth stria?; the embryonic whorls finely, radiately sulcated. Color light brown, apex dark chestnut ; the lower whorls covered with a black, fugacious epidermis which is generally dense on the last whorl and more sparsely distributed on the other LIBRARY THE NAUTILUS. Whorls 6£, somewhat convex; suture well impressed. Aperture ovate, a little oblique, of an orange yellow color within ; peristome simple, acute, not thickened within, extremities united by a thick, orange tinted, parietal callosity; eolumella orange-yellow, flexuoiis, abruptly terminating in a thin, slightly curved lamellar plait. Length, 25 ; diam. 12 nun. Habitat, Island of Lanai. Animal when extended in motion as long as the shell. Mantle dark slate, margined on the outer edge with reddish-brown. Foot above and below very dark-brown, the sides studded with large patches of darker hue, the posterior portion tinged with red. The head above and tentacles covered with almost black granulations. The prominent features of this shell are its elongate form and orange colored aperture. ISAAC LEA DEPARTMENT [Conducted in thr int<'uM nf tlir Isaac Lea Conchological Om^tcr i>f Hir Agassiz Associa- tion by its General Secretary, Mrs. M. Burton Willia The first week in May, the vol. of Transactions crossed the Rocky Mountains on its way east. Our members in the Eastern States have been very patient in awaiting its arrival. The address of Mr. James H. Lemon has been changed from 134 Grange Ave., to L'TO Markham St., Toronto, Canada. In the January number of THE NAUTILUS the Editors noted the publication of the Reverend George W. Taylor's, "Preliminary Catalogue of the Marine Mollusks of the Pacific Coast of Canada, with notes on their Distribution." This Catalogue uill not only be found helpful to members of our chapter residing on the Pacific Coast, but useful to all members interested in the Molluscan fauna' of the coast. The bulletin shows great care in bringing the nomen- clature up to date. The class! firati idopted by Dr. \V. II. Call in liis " Marine Mollusks of the S. E. Coast of the United States," has been followed by Mr. Taylor. The Catalogue is for sale by John Durie & Son, Ottawa, and The Copp ( 'lark Co., Toronto, Canada. Another new name is added to our membership roll, Mr. Leon Walker, Chelsea, Mass. Members will please notice that additions THE XAUTII.l>. to our membership are now published in THE NAUTILUS. Our Chapter is so large that the small amount charged for dues, for one member, is consumed by the. time the new one has been introduced by postal card to all the members of the chapter. THE NAUTILUS is our chapter organ and no member can afford to be without it. The Juvenile Section is reported in The Observer, Portland, Conn., May number page 265, under the title " Notes from Young Conehologists." AN INTERROGATION REGARDING THE FOSSIL SHELLS OF SAN PEDRO BAY. [An Extract from the Report of the Hon Delos Arnold. From the Transactions of the Isaac Lea Conchologicul Chapter for 1895]. It is probable there are many species of shells undiscovered in the hidden recesseiTof our extended shores, that will be revealed from time to time as our facilities for systematic collecting are increased. This feature of the question cannot but inspire the devotees of con- chology — both old and young — with a keen interest. The possibility, not to say strong probability, of being instrumental in adding new- forms to the accumulating list is an ever present incentive to earnest, careful and intelligent observation. To lend color to the idea of the existence of undiscovered species in this region, is the fact that among three hundred or more species and varieties of Quaternary and Tertiary marine fossils that have been discovered in the rocks and raised beaches in the vicinity of San Pedro Bay there are many that are supposed to be extinct in this locality, and yet, the same or nearly allied species are known to be living along the shores of Alaska and Washington, and some even as far south as the northern shores of California. Among there are ; Muchcera pntula Dixon, Pi'iene Oregoneiisis Redf., Pi:deii hantatus Sby., AV-ww Gali/ornica lircri