THE

NAUTILUS

A QUARTERLY JOURNAL

DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS

OF CONCHOLOGISTS

VOL. 52

JULY, 1938 to APRIL, 1939

EDITORS AND PUBLISHERS

HENRY A. PILSBRY

Curator of the Department of Mollusks and Marine Invertebrates,

Academy of Natural Sciences

H. BURRINGTON BAKER

Associate Professor of Zoology, University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pa.

THE SCIENCE PRESS PRINTING COMPANY

LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA

CONTENTS

Names of new genera and species in italics

Achatinellidae, Emerson collection 107

Alabama, distribution of land mollusks 112

American Malacological Union 36, 66, 142

A?iabathron muriei Bartsch & Render 110

Anguispira alternata Jessica Kutchka 11

Anguispira alternata paucicostata Kutchka 12

Anodonta grandis, life cycle, New Orleans 99

Aquebana (Exsuavitas) pubescens (Pfr.) 143

Archachatina, notes on 26

Atys semistriata Pease 119

Baker, Fred 32, 64

Bensonies H.B.B., for Bensonia Pfr 33

Boycott, Prof. A. E 135

Brilliance in gastropod shells 51

Bulimnea megasoma from Ontario 106

Busycon carica (Gmelin) as genotype 16

Busy con pyrum (Dillwyn), sinistral shell 89

Campeloma geniculum (Conrad) 129

Cepolis debilis (Pfeiffer) 144

Cepolis gilva (Ferussac) 77

Cepolis pseudogilva Torre 78

Choanopoma pilsbryi Welch 139

Choanopoma uncinatum divisum Welch 139

Conchological Club of Southern Calif 141

Cyphoma mcgintyi Pilsbry 108

Cypraea jensostergaardi Ingram 122

Cypraea pilsbryi Ingram 121

Cypraea spadicea Swainson 1, 141

Cypraeidae from Guam 5

Cypraeidae from Samoa and Palmyra 103

Dates of The Nautilus 32

Depauperization 124

Discus bryanti tuberculatus Kutchka 14

iii

IV THE NAUTILUS

Discus patulus angulatus Kutchka 13

Discus patulus brooksi Kutchka 13

Discus rotundatus in Massachusetts 108

Epitonium tollini "Dall" Bartsch 34

Euchemotrema Archer, subg. of Stenotrema 98

Euclastaria Pilsbry 144

Eucyclophorus woodianus isabelanus Bartsch 92

Euglanclina balesi Pilsbry 16

Exsuavitas, subgenus of Aquebana 143

Florida, marines from Sanibel 27

Foster, Thural Dale 62

Garden snails 95

Georgia, Ogeechee River shells 129

Helicostyla lignaria atra Bartsch 92

Helix nemoralis 108

Helminthoglypta ayresiana lesteri Ckll 24

Helminthoglypta tudiculata tularensis Hemph 7

Hydatina physis from Florida 33, 72

Kamchatka, freshwater shells 56

Lamellaria sharoni Willett 123

Latchford, Chief Justice F. R 72

Latirus maxwelli Pilsbry 86

Latirus mcgintyi Pilsbry 84

Latirus trochlearis (Kobelt) 85

Leiostraca schwengelae Bartsch 34

Liguus, color variation 46

Liguus fasciatus roseatus, sinistral 140

Liocyma schefferi Bartsch & Rehder Ill

Lucina, western Atlantic species 88

Lyrodes Doering 87

Mexico, west coast marines 41

Neuropterous larva as snail taxi 94

Opeas gracile from Alabama 29

Opercular regeneration or mending 140

Oreohelix eurekensis uinta Brooks 105

Ostrea virginica from Cape Breton Is 107

Oxystyla torrei McGinty 93

Paphia bifurcata Quayle 139

THE NAUTILUS V

Paphia philippinarum from British Columbia 139

Pecten (Chlamys) exasperatus Swby 102

Pecten (Chlamys) muscosus Wood 102

Physa on California islands 138

Pisidium cinereum Alder 80

Pisidium conventus Clessin 83

Pisidium lilljeborgi Clessin 82

Pisidium milium Held 82

Polygyra Say, type of 22

Polydontes, key to Cuban species 41

Polydontes natensoni Torre 37

Polydontes natensoni maurus Torre 38

Polydontes torrei Pilsbry 40

Pomacea paludosa eating fish 141

Potamopyrgus Stimpson 87

Pseudantalis Monterosato, type of 139

Pseudochama clarionensis Willett 48

Pseudomelatoma semiinflata redondoensis Burch 21

Radiodiscus coppingeri Smith : 116

Radiodiscus magellanicus Smith 116

Radiodiscus riochicoensis Crawford 116

Radular teeth succession 142

Rixford collection 139

Rumina decollata from Florida 33

Say's American Conchology 25, 106

Semicassis centriquadrata Val 73

Semicassis cicatricosa peristephes Pils. & McGinty 76

Semicassis gibba (Gm.) and varieties 74

Setipellis stigmatica (Sh.), anatomy 143

Sphaerium nitidum Clessin, from Aleutian Is 79

Spiraxis (Pseudosubidina) arcuatus H.B.B 134

Spiraxis (Pseud osubulina) caducus H.B.B 133

Spiraxis (Pseudosubidina) costatus H.B.B 133

Spiraxis (P.) irregularis negligens H.B.B 132

Spiraxis (Pseudosubidina) parvus H.B.B 134

Spiraxis (Pseudosubulina) ventrosus H.B.B 132

Stagnicola bulimoides Vancouver ensis F. C. Baker 144

Stenotrema fraternum montanum Archer 98

Vlll THE NAUTILUS

Perry, Louise M 27

Pilsbry, Henry A 15, 22, 38, 73, 84, 108, 139

Quayle, D. B 139

Render, Harald A 110

Robertson, Mrs. Harold R 36, 66, 142

Schwengel, Jeanne S 27

Smith, Allyn G 34

Smith, Burnett 16, 89

Torre, Carlos de la 37, 46, 77

Van Cleave, Harley J 62

Van Hyning, T 33

Welch, d'Alte 139

Wheeler, H. E 25, 29

Willett, George 10, 48, 123

The Nautilus

Vol. 52 July, 1938 No. 1

NOTES ON THE COWRY, CYPRAEA SPADICEA,

SWAINSON

BY WILLIAM MAKCUS INGRAM

There has been very little published on the nut-brown cowry,

Cypraea spadicea Swainson. The literature that is available is

scattered and is almost entirely of systematic nature. The writer

has collected members of this species for a number of years, and

at this time is able to add to the literature already published,

notes on the bulla stage, development of shell and color pattern,

individual variations in size, and distributional range.

During the late summer of 1937 three individuals of Cypraea

spadicea Swainson still in the bulla stage were collected alive

clinging to the under surface of a stone in a tide pool at Laguna

Beach, California. At the same time 2 smaller bulla stages were

taken on the beach near the place of the first collection. The

writer has not been able to find any descriptions of the bulla stage

of this cowry in the literature, and believes that his are amongst

the first to have been taken in the living state. The bulla stages

that were collected are 19.5, 19, 19, 18, and 11 mm. in length,

and are very similar to the corresponding stages of Cypraea car-

neola Linnaeus. A complete description of the bulla stage based

on the 19 mm. individuals and numbered 4234 and 4235 in the

writer's collection follows (PL 1, figs. 8-11).

Shell color creamy-brown; shell crossed by three brown bands

extending from columella to outer lip, middle band 4 mm. in

width, anterior and posterior bands 3 mm. in width; coloring of

middle band most distinct; posterior band limited to the body

whorl at the base of the spire ; spiral whorls arise abruptly from

body whorl, apex pointed; aperture 6 mm. broad at point of

maximum width ; columella creamy-white ; external banding

visible in cavity of the shell.

2 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

The shells that may represent the next stage in development

from the bulla were also obtained alive in a tide pool at Laguna

Beach, California, and are numbered 5453 and 2369 in the

writer's collection. These shells are 42 and 46 mm. in length re-

spectively. In these specimens the columellar teeth are just be-

ginning to form and the outer lip of the younger bulla stage has

turned ventrally and medially. There is no indication of the

thickening of the basal margins of the shells. The three brown

color bands over the dorsal surface of the shell still persist. The

only indication of the brown blotch on the dorsal surface that is

characteristic of the adult is represented by a band of deep

brown color about 7 mm. broad on that part of the body whorl

adjoining the spire. The spire is very prominent and in both

specimens measures 5 mm. in height. The columellar and outer

lips and lateral surfaces of the shells are just beginning to assume

the white color that is characteristic of these regions in the adult

(Plate 1, fig. 12).

Six other shells numbered in the writer's collection consecu-

tively from 1452 to and including 1457 and also from Laguna

Beach probably represent that stage in shell development imme-

diately preceding the adult. These specimens measure from 39

to 52 mm. in length. The teeth on the outer and columellar lips

are perfectly formed, and the two lips as well as the basal-lateral

margins of the shells have thickened so that they are characteris-

tically adult. The 3 brown color-bands over the dorsal surface of

the shell still persist. The brown blotch of the typical adult is

still confined to the body whorl adjoining the spire, and in the

largest specimen is 10 mm. in width. The spire is still visible in

one specimen, but cannot be seen in the others. One typical

example of this stage is shown in Plate 1, figure 13.

It seems apparent that the last adult shell character to be formed

by this mollusk is the brown-blotched color pattern of the dorsal

surface. Other species of cowries that form the dorsal color pat-

tern as the last of the adult shell characters are : Cypraea ventricu-

lus Lamarck, Cypraea cervus Linnaeus, Cypraea cervinetta

Kiener, and Cypraea cribraria Linnaeus. In the majority of the

members of the family, however, the last adult shell character to

be assumed is the thickening of the base and the lateral walls of

the shell. A few of the many species that illustrate this point in

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 3

the development of color pattern and shell are : Cypraea sulciden-

tata Gray, Cypraea reticulata Martyn, Cypraea intermedia, Gray,

Cypraea vitellus Linnaeus, and Cypraea arabica Linnaeus.

There is a great variation in size shown by nature members of

Cypraea spadicea Swainson. The shell size here is based on shell

length, the measurements being made from the extremity of the

anterior to the extremity of the posterior shell regions over the

base. In computing the measurements listed here only fully

mature shells were used. Of the 160 specimens the writer ex-

amined, the largest measured 61 mm. and the smallest 31 mm. in

length. The shells from San Pedro, California, proved to have the

largest average length. The 34 shells from this locality that were

measured possessed an average length of 50.5 mm. The specimens

collected at San Diego, California, had the smallest average shell

length. These shells showed an average length of 35.5 mm. for

the 24 individuals measured. The 40 shells from Laguna Beach,

California, that were measured had an average length of 42.2 mm.

As well as the writer has been able to determine the reported

range of Cypraea spadicea Swainson extends from Monterey Bay,

California, the northernmost locality, to San Martin Island, Mex-

ico. Mrs. C. H. Fackenthall, of Pacific Grove, California, col-

lected the specimen on which the northern record is based.1 Her

specimen was taken alive on Chinatown Point, Monterey Bay, Cali-

fornia. Mr. A. M. Strong reported this species as occurring at

San Martin Island, Mexico.2 The writer is of the opinion that

the specimen collected by Mrs. Fackenthall was a stray, and that

the general northern range limit of this species is Santa Barbara,

California, since no other authentic live collections have been made

north of this locality. Individuals are seemingly to be found in

greater abundance at San Diego, Laguna Beach, and San Pedro,

California, than at any other locality in the species ' distributional

range.

In the fossil state this species has been reported from the Plio-

cene, Pleistocene, and recent formations. Grant and Gale list it

from the middle Pliocene of Holser Canyon in Los Angeles

i S. S. Berry, Miscellaneous Notes on California Mollushs, The Nautilus,

Vol. XXII, pp. 37-41, 1908.

2 A. M. Strong, Marine Mollusca of San Martin Island, Mexico, Proc. of

Calif. Acad, of Sciences, 4th series, Vol. XXIII, No. 12, pp. 191-194, 1937.

4 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

County, California ; from the Pleistocene of Santa Barbara Island,

and upper San Pedro Series of Deadman Island at San Pedro,

Los Angeles County, and from the recent Santa Barbara Island to

Cedros Island, Lower California.3 Arnold lists Cypraea spadicea

Swainson as occurring in the Pleistocene of Santa Barbara Island

and from San Pedro4 ; and Gabb reports the species from the Post-

Pleistocene of Santa Barbara Island.5

Cypraea spadicea Swainson

Cypraea spadicea Swainson, Phil. Mag., Vol. LXI, p. 376, 1823.

Cypraea spadicea Gray, Monograph, Cypraeidae, Zool. Jour., Vol.

I, p. 71, 1824.

Shell obovately oblong, somewhat pyriform, attenuated anteri-

orly; aperture varies in width at anterior extremity from 3 to 4

mm., and at posterior extremity from 3 to 5 mm. ; teeth vary in

width from .50 to 1 mm., teeth rounded on free edge and distinct,

teeth spaced from each other on columellar and outer lips from .25

to 1 mm. apart, teeth on columellar lip restricted to aperture, teeth

on outer lip extend approximately 1 mm. over the base ; anterior

and posterior canal extremities rounded, posterior outer lip canal

extremity projects further from bulk of shell than the posterior

columellar lip extremity, projections of anterior canal extremities

may be equal, or if not, the anterior columellar lip extremity pro-

jects the further; shell color over the dorsal surface chestnut-

brown, clouded toward the edges with burnt brown, edged with a

confused row of dark brown spots, which in some shells are not

distinguishable having blended together in growth to form a

waved dark brown line ; sides of shell vary in color from smoky-

grey to pinkish white, base of shell ivory-white ; spire covered by

last layer of enamel to be laid down on dorsal surface of shell,

spire outline may or may not be seen under this enamel layer.

The above description is based on the results obtained from an

examination of 72 shells, and represents a fairly complete account

of the peculiarities that are characteristic of this species. The

shells that were examined varied in length from 31 to 61 mm.

3 U. S. Grant and H. E. Gale, Pliocene and Pleistocene Mollusca of Cali-

fornia and Adjacent Regions, Memoirs of San Diego Society of Natural Sci-

ences, Vol. 1, 1931.

* R. Arnold, The Paleontology and Stratigraphy of the Marine Pliocene and

Pleistocene of San Pedro, California, Contributions from the Hopkins Seaside

Laboratory of Leland Stanford Jr. University, XXXI, 1903.

s W. M. Gabb, Cretaceous and Tertiary Fossils, Geological Survey of Cali-

fornia, Paleontology, Vol. II, 1869.

THE NAUTILUS: 52 (i;

PLATE 1

Figs. 1 -.", Trophon lasius ( Dall I ■ 2. 6, type, nat. size. Fig. 7, Epitonium

tollini Dall, Length 8 nun. Figs. 8-11, Cypraea spadicea Sw., bulla stage;

L2, following .stage; 13, stage immediately preceding adult; all slightly

enlarged.

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 5

CYPRAEIDAE FROM GUAM

WILLIAM MAECUS INGRAM

Guam is the largest and the southernmost of the Marianas

Islands. It is situated in 13° 26' North Latitude and 144° 39'

East Longitude. The island is composed almost entirely of raised

coral formation, and is approximately 30 miles long, with an

average width of about 7 miles.

The data used here are based upon specimens collected by H. G.

Hornbostel in 1923 and 1925 and by Lieutenant Commander and

Mrs. Clark in 1937. The cowries taken by Mr. Hornbostel are

now housed in the Bernice P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu, and

those gathered by Lieutenant and Mrs. Clark are in the writer's

collection.

The two collections include 18 species of cowries from Guam,

the majority of which were taken from Tumon Bay on the west

shore of the island. A shelving reef in this bay provides an ideal

habitat for marine mollusks. Here the surf is but moderately

rough, and much of the reef is exposed at low tide.

Apparently the most common species in Guam are Cypraea

moneta Linnaeus, the common Indo-Pacific species, and Cypraea

lynx Linnaeus, which is also Indo-Pacific in its distribution. None

of the other species listed here are abundant in the two collections.

At least two of the eighteen species were used by the early in-

habitants for ornamental or for burial purposes. Perforated

individuals of Cypraea tigris Linnaeus in the Bishop Museum

collection indicate that members of this species were employed for

personal adornment. Hornbostel reports that beach-worn shells

of Cypraea caput -serpentis Linnaeus were found in almost all

monument sites where the native dead were buried.1

My purpose here is to record the members of the Cypraeidae

from Guam, and to present further information regarding the dis-

tribution of this family in the North Pacific.2,3

i Thompson, L. M. Archeology of the Marianas Islands. Bishop Museum

Bull. 100, 1932.

2 Ingram, W. M. The Family Cypraeidae in the Hawaiian Islands. The

Nautilus, Vol. 50, 1937.

3 Ingram, W. M. Cypraeidae from Christmas, Palmyra, Washington, and

Fanning Island. The Nautilus, Vol. 51, 1937.

6 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

Cypraea annulus Linnaeus. The annular ring on the dorsal

surface of all shells is very distinct. The 11 specimens in the

writer's collection are of nearly uniform length; the largest shell

measuring 20 mm. and the smallest 16 mm.

Cypraea arabica Linnaeus. The arabic pattern is clearly de-

fined ; the marginal filling is light brown. The largest specimen

measures 60 mm. in length.

Cypraea caput-serpentis Linnaeus. The marginal filling in all

specimens is dark brown and extends well over the lateral surface

of the shell. The dorsal reticulated color pattern is clear ; dorsally

the anterior and posterior canal regions are marked by a blotch of

white or brownish-white.

Cypraea carneola Linnaeus. The largest of the specimens is

50 mm. long. The individuals are all elongate ; none approach the

so-called variety propinqua Garr.

Cypraea erosa Linnaeus. Specimens have a very light dorsal

coloration, and the eroded pattern on the outer lip is pronounced.

Cypraea helvola Linnaeus. The specimens have a moderately

orange colored marginal filling. Dorsally the anterior and pos-

terior canal extremities are marked with purple. The largest

individual is 25 mm. long.

Cypraea intermedia Gray. The reticulated pattern on the dor-

sal surface of many of the shells is composed of nearly circular

breaks in the otherwise light brown pattern. The largest indi-

vidual is 44 mm. long.

Cypraea isabella Linnaeus. The brown dashes on the dorsal

surface of the shell are very light.

Cypraea lynx Linnaeus. The dorsal coloration of the majority

of shells is light brown. The writer has two specimens which are

a smoky blue-grey in color. The largest individual is 55 mm. long.

Cypraea mappa Linnaeus. There is but one individual in the

museum collection; this is the pink base form. Its length is

85 mm.

Cypraea mauritiana Linnaeus. The reticulated pattern is clear,

and the dorsal anterior and posterior canal regions are tinged with

orange-brown.

Cypraea moneta Linnaeus. This is the most common species

in the collections. The individuals vary in color from deep orange

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 7

to greyish-white. A few possess an imperfectly formed ring on

their dorsal surface.

Cypraea reticulata Martyn. The individuals are small; the

largest specimen is 56 mm. long.

Cypraea talpa Linnaeus. The largest individual in the collec-

tions is 66 mm. long.

Cypraea testudinaria Linnaeus. One specimen is in the

museum collection. Its dorsal surface is light brown blotched

with darker shades of this color.

Cypraea tigris Linnaeus. Two adult and one juvenile specimen

are in the museum collection. The adults are 80 mm. long. One

has a blotched brown dorsal color pattern, and the other a brown

spotted pattern.

Cypraea ventriculitis Lamarck. The largest individual of those

in the collections is 55 mm. in length.

Cypraea vitellus Linnaeus. The marginal fillings of all of the

specimens are dark brown. The largest shell is 60 mm. in length.

THE TYPE LOCALITY OF "HELIX TUDICULATA

VAR. TULARENSIS HEMPHILL"

BY G. D. HANNA

On June 16, 1933, I had an opportunity to escape the summer

heat of the San Joaquin Valley where some field work was in

progress. The high land of the Sierra Nevada in the drainage

of the various branches of Tule River was the most convenient

place for a brief visit. As I approached Porterville Hemphill's

"tularensis" came to mind with its vague locality, "Fraser's

Mill" about which there has been much speculation. The nature

and location of the ' ' Mill ' ' has not been recorded in conchological

literature and some of us fear it might fall in the long list of ' ' lost

localities. ' ' Mr. J. B. Hardaway in Porterville told me I should

seek an old settler in Springville, Mr. J. R. Talley. Mr. Talley

gave me very complete information which was later verified by

direct examination and through the help of Mr. George Dillon,

of Mountain Home. This is essentially as follows :

The mill was built by J. B. Fraser about 1878 to convert a fine

grove of giant sequoias into lumber. In 1886 it was sold to the

8 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

firm of Newport and Pease who ceased operating in 1888, and

shortly thereafter the mill was destroyed by fire.

The mill site is about an eighth of a mile east of the packing

station called Mountain Home, Tulare County, California. It is

on a small flat of the north fork of Tule River, three miles west

of Balch Park, a grove of giant trees owned by Tulare County

and maintained as a free public park. The elevation of the mill

site is 6,280 feet. Many parts of heavy machinery remain about

the place and a young sequoia, five feet in diameter at the base,

has grown completely around the old crank shaft of the mill

engine.

Living snails were found to be fairly common in the near vicin-

ity under logs, boards and pieces of bark, at or near the water's

edge. At Camp Nelson on the middle fork of Tule River, eleva-

tion about 4,500 feet, they were even more abundant in similar

habitat. Dense shade seemed to be preferred but was not essen-

tial. No good rock slides were found in the vicinity of either

Mountain Home or Camp Nelson but everything indicated that

tularensis does not require such shelter. The country rock in both

places is massive granite and this, presumably, causes a scarcity

of calcite which in turn is reflected in the excessive thinness of the

shells. Some specimens have almost the thinness and texture of

oiled tissue paper.

The relationship of the species is believed to be with Helmintho-

glypta cypreophila Newcomb, an inhabitant of the Sierra farther

to the northward, but it is a thinner and usually much smaller

shell. The coloration of the mantle is very similar in both.

It is not known when Hemphill made the original collection or

how he happened to be in this section of the mountains. He sepa-

rated the specimens he retained in his own collection into six lots

and labelled four of them "Types." These are his numbers:

8772, 3 shells, "small elevated"; 8773, 3 shells, "medium ele-

vated"; 8774, 4 shells, "depressed"; 8775, 3 shells, "large ele-

vated." One of the remaining lots, 8776, is a single bandless

shell and is indicated as, ' ' Type lot. ' ' The other lot 8777 contains

two shells, likewise labelled, "Type lot" and from "Cramer,

Tulare County, Calif." It is significant that these last bear the

notation "Very large, passing into cypreophila Newc." All of

these 16 specimens have been segregated into the special collection

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 9

of type material at the California Academy of Sciences. The

diameter varies from 19 to 26.5 mm., average 22.06 mm. ; the

altitude varies from 12.2 to 18.3 mm., average 14.11 mm.

References to the species in the literature are as follows :

Epiphragmophora tudiculata tularensis Hemphill, Pilsbry, Naut.

Vol. 27, Sept. 1913, p. 49. "Perforate, very thin, yellowish

citrine or light yellowish olive. ' '

Epiphragmophora traskii tularica Bartsch, Pilsbry, Naut. Vol. 31,

1918, p. 108. [Mentioned in review of Bartsch 's paper.]

Epiphragmophora traski tularensis Hemphill, Pilsbry, Naut. Vol.

11, Sept., 1897, p. 59. [Nomen nudum.]

Epiphragmophora tudiculata tidarensis Hemphill, Pilsbry, Naut.

Vol. 11, Sept., 1897, p. 60. [Nomen nudum.]

Epiphragmophora traskii tularensis Hemphill, Pilsbry, Man.

Conch. Vol. 9, 1894, p. 199. [Nomen nudum. No loc]

Epiphragmophora tudiculata tularensis Hemphill, Lowe, Naut.

Vol. 30, 1916, pp. 93, 94. [Vernal Falls, Yosemite.]

Epiphragmophora traskii tularica Bartsch, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus.

Vol. 51, Des. 21, 1916, p. 615, pi. 116, figs. 1-3.

Epiphragmophora traskii proles Hemphill, Pilsbry, Man. Conch.

Vol. 9, 1894, p. 199. [Nomen nudum. No loc]

Epiphragmophora traskii proles Hemphill, Pilsbry, Naut. Vol. 11,

Aug. 1897, p. 48. [Nomen nudum. Fraser's Mill.]

Epiphragmophora traskii proles Bartsch, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus.

Vol. 51, 1916, p. 616, pi. 116, figs. 4-6. Type P.A.N.S.P. No.

62270. Fraser's Mill. Review, Pilsbry, Naut. Vol. 31, 1918,

p. 108.

Adult shells which I collected at Mountain Home vary in diam-

eter from 18.8 mm. to 27.3 mm. and in altitude from 13.4 mm. to

17.2 mm. Those from Camp Nelson vary in diameter from 21.5

mm. to 27.8 mm., and in altitude from 13.9 mm. to 17.8 mm.

The species proles is believed to be entirely different from

tularensis. The collection of the California Academy of Sciences

contains eight specimens labelled "Types" by Hemphill and from

"near Fraser's Mill, Tulare Co., California." All are greatly

depressed and widely umbilicate. His catalog number is 8681.

No characters were given for the form in the first two published

references to the name; therefore, it should date from Bartsch,

1916. The specimen he figured as "Type" is higher than any of

those selected by Hemphill and it has a much darker colored spiral

band. I did not find the shell at all during my recent visit to the

region of the type locality.

10 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

REMARKS ON SOME WEST AMERICAN MOLLUSKS

BY G. WILLETT

In Cornell University Bulletin of American Paleontology (vol.

8, no. 36, 1921), Katherine E. H. Van Winkle figures Carpenter's

type specimens of Opalia insculpta and Trophon tenuisculptus,

both from the Santa Barbara 'Pleistocene' (probably upper Plio-

cene). After studying these figures, together with Carpenter's

original descriptions, Dr. U. S. Grant, A. M. Strong and the writer

are agreed that Dall's Epitonium crenimarginatum is identical

with Carpenter's earlier E. insculptum and the latter name should

be used for our Recent California species.

We also believe that the description and figure of the type of

'Trophon' tenuisculptus prove this species to be a Tritonalia, not

a Trophon. The principal characters substantiating this belief are

the short canal, and the thickened and denticulated lip of the

fossil. We have examined similar specimens from the Santa

Barbara Pliocene, Carpenter's type locality, but have not seen

the species from the Recent fauna. T. tenuisculpta appears quite

close to Tritonalia squamulifera (Carpenter in Gabb, Paleontology

of Calif., vol. 2, sec. 1, pt, 2, 1869, p. 44) ; in fact, Gabb comments

on the similarity of the two, but separates them on differences in

sculpture. This feature, however, varies considerably, especially

if worn specimens are included with material considered. An

appreciable difference between the two lies in the number of axial

ribs, which are about twelve in tenuisculpta and only seven or eight

in squamulifera. Fossil specimens of the latter in the writer's

collection are much more shouldered than tenuisculpta and are

usually spined at the angle. Squamulifera is the shell figured by

Arnold (Mem. Calif. Acad. Sci., 3, 1903, pi. 5, fig. 1) as Ocineora

darbarensis Gabb. It was omitted by Grant and Gale (Mem. S.

Diego Soc. Nat. Hist., 1, 1931) , although it is a common Calif ornian

fossil. A larger series might show that squamulifera grades into

foveolata (Hds.).

The common shell that is found in most west coast collections

labelled Trophon tenuisculptus is a true Trophon of the subgenus

Trophonopsis. As this species is clearly different from tenui-

sculpta of Carpenter, it becomes necessary to find another name

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 11

for it. Fortunately, one is available, T. lasius Dall. A photo-

graph of the type of the latter (pi. 1, fig. 6), furnished through the

kindness of Dr. Alexander Wetmore, of the United States National

Museum, appears to represent an unusually smooth specimen of

the shell we have been calling tenuisculptus. Considering the

remarkable amount of variation in this species (see pi. 1, figs. 1-5),

which runs from almost smooth examples to ornately frilled ones,

it is strange that more names have not been applied to it.

Tritonalia barbarensis (Gabb), a Recent shell described from

Catalina Island, is figured by Dall (U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull, 112,

1921, pi. 6, fig. 5), and Oldroyd (Stanford Univ. Publ. Geol., 2,

pt. 2, 1927, pi. 30, fig. 5) . This species is also common in the upper

Pliocene at Fifth and Hope streets, Los Angeles, at Santa Barbara,

and in the lower Timms Point horizon at San Pedro. The Plio-

cene specimens are not quite the same as the Recent, differing in

greater average number of axial ribs and less prominent spines at

the shoulder. These features probably indicate a closer relation-

ship to T. squamulifera in the Pliocene than exists today. T.

barbarensis is a smaller, thinner, more slender shell than squamu-

lifera, with relatively smaller aperture. However, there are Plio-

cene specimens of the two species that are quite similar.

Los Angeles Museum, Los Angeles, California.

NEW VARIETIES OF ANGUISPIRA AND DISCUS

BY GOEDON M. KUTCHKA

Carnegie Museum

While making a monographic study of the genera Anguispira

and Discus in the Carnegie Museum as a thesis problem for my

Master of Science degree, I discovered five new varieties. I am

greatly indebted to Dr. S. T. Brooks for his aid in photographing

the shells, also to Dr. H. A. Pilsbry for the privilege of studying

the collection of Academy of Natural Sciences. These new varie-

ties are :

Anguispira alternata jessica var. nov. PI. 2, fig. 1.

Shell slightly elevated, light reddish-brown, somewhat shiny;

surface above covered with rows of reddish squares, below with one

row of these dots just beneath periphery ; whorls 5^, angulated ;

12 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

embryonic whorl covered with criss-cross markings; remaining

whorls covered with rib-striations, which are prominent above,

and weaker below ; intermediate striae many, coarse and deep ;

spiral striae faint; periphery slightly angulated, possessing a

slight carina in some specimens ; aperture somewhat ovate, parie-

tal wall with a very thin callus deposit; umbilicus narrow, deep,

showing all inner whorls. Greater diam. 20.75, lesser 18.75 mm. ;

height 11 mm.

Type Locality: Stevenson, Jackson County, Alabama. Holo-

type: G. H. Clapp Collection, Carnegie Museum, No. 7102. Para-

types: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, No. 169413,

and United States National Museum, No. 471561. Distribution:

Tennessee and Alabama.

The slight carina places this variety close to some of the speci-

mens of A. altemata carinata that are found in Tennessee and

Alabama ; these varieties also belong close to Jessica in coloration.

A. alternata Jessica lacks the carina, flat shell, and rhomboidal

aperture of A. cumberlandiana columba and A. c. alabama. This

variety has been named in honor of my wife, who has been a con-

stant companion and an ever present inspiration to me.

Anguispira alternata paucicostata var. nov. PI. 2, fig. 2.

Shell slightly depressed, buckthorn-brown color, dull ; spire

slightly elevated ; whorls 5^, flattened ; embryonic whorl slightly

criss-crossed ; surface covered with only a few brown spots ; heav-

ily ribbed, the rib-striations continuing over the angulated periph-

ery to the umbilical region; rib-striations 1.5 mm. apart, smooth

on top ; intermediate striae many, coarse and deep ; spiral striae

few and very faint, their continuation around whorls broken by

rib-striations; aperture wider than high, rendered somewhat

rhomboidal by slightly acute carina, parietal wall covered with a

slight callus deposit; umbilicus narrow and deep, showing all

inner whorls. Greater diam. 16.75, lesser diam. 13.75 mm., height

8.5 mm.

Type Locality: Mt. Mitchell, Buncombe County, North Caro-

lina. Holotype: Carnegie Museum, Section of Recent Inverte-

brates, No. 62.30645.

The dorsal rib-striations are much like those found on A. alter-

nata costata, but those of paucicostata are much further apart and

they continue over the periphery to the umbilical region. The

THE NAUTILUS: 52 (1)

PLATE 2

V

%

H/'4|

.

•NflV

flM^"

$

■

1. Anguispira alternata Jessica, diam. 20.75 mm.

2. Anguispira alternata paueicostata. x 2.

3. Discus patulus brooksi. x 2.

4. Discus patulus angulata. x 2.

5. Discus bryanti tubereulata. x 2.

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 13

shell is much duller in coloring than in costata, much more like

that of A. alternata smithi, but somewhat darker.

Discus patulus brooksi var. nov. PL 2, fig. 3.

Striations much pronounced and wide apart ; shell honey-yellow

in color, shiny, comparatively flat ; whorls 5|, rounded ; aperture

oval, slight callus on parietal wall; striations continue around

periphery to umbilicus without decreasing in size ; umbilicus wide,

showing all inner whorls; embryonic whorls smooth, rest heavily

striated ; intermediate striae very faint ; rib-striations white on

top, without any striae crossing them transversely ; some of stria-

tions do not enter umbilical region but anastomose with others

which enter this region ; internal columellar tubercle small.

Greater diam. 7.125, lesser 6.25 mm. ; height 2.5 mm.

Type Locality: Pyriton, Clay County, Alabama. Holotype:

Carnegie Museum, Section of Recent Invertebrates, No. 62.30647.

Paratypes: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, No.

169412, and United States National Museum, No. 471560. Distri-

bution: Ala. ; Tenn. ; S. Car. ; N. Car. ; and Ga.

Shell usually flatter and much lighter in color than typical

Discus patulus; also the umbilicus is wider, the striations are

farther apart, and the intermediate striae are weaker.

This subspecies ranges in measurement from 7.125 to 8.25 mm.

for the greater diameter, and 6.25 to 7.25 mm. for the lesser diam-

eter.

This subspecies has been named in honor of Dr. S. T. Brooks,

who has given me much aid and many useful suggestions during

the preparation of my thesis problem.

Discus patulus angulatus var; nov. PL 2, fig. 4.

Shell slightly elevated, reddish-brown color, dull ; spire ele-

vated ; whorls 5|, angulated ; embryonic whorl smooth ; surface

heavily ribbed above, the rib-striations forming a carina as they

pass over the periphery ; rib-striations smooth on top ; intermediate

striae faint; rib-striations below continue into umbilicus; umbili-

cus moderately wide, deep, showing all inner whorls; aperture

somewhat rounded; internal columellar tubercle medium in size.

Diameter 8 mm. ; height 3.5 mm.

Type Locality: Paint Rock, Madison County, North Carolina.

Holotype : Carnegie Museum, Section of Recent Invertebrates, No.

14 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

62.30646. Distribution: Western Pennsylvania and Maryland;

West Virginia ; Kentucky ; Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee

and North Carolina ; and Appalachian Mountains of South Caro-

lina, Georgia, and Alabama.

This subspecies can readily be distinguished from the typical

D. patulus by the angulated periphery ; the rib-striations in pass-

ing over the periphery form a carina, which is more or less promi-

nent.

Discus bryanti tuberculatus var. nov. PL 2, fig. 5.

Shell depressed, reddish-brown color, dull; spire slightly ele-

vated; whorls, 5£; somewhat rounded; embryonic whorl smooth,

remaining covered with rib-striations; body whorl bicarinate,

somewhat flat or slightly concave between the carinae; flat space

somewhat smooth, the rib-striations continue across it as striae;

intermediate striae faint ; umbilicus moderately wide, deep, show-

ing all inner whorls ; aperture somewhat ovate, internal columellar

tubercle present and prominent. Diam. 7 mm. ; height 3.25 mm.

Type Locality: Careyville, Campbell County, Tennessee. Holo-

type: Carnegie Museum, Section of Recent Invertebrates, No.

62.30648. Distribution: Va. ; Ky. ; Tenn. ; N. Car. ; and Ala.

The prominent internal columellar tubercle distinguishes this

subspecies from D. bryanti and its allies. The periphery, which is

characteristic of D. clappi, bryanti, and bryanti nigromontanus,

sets it apart from D. patulus. It can be regarded as an inter-

mediate form of patulus and bryanti.

LIST OF MOLLUSCS FROM DRIFT DEBRIS OF

PALADORA CREEK, TEXAS

BY W. T. CLAEKE, JR.

During the summer of 1937 while attending the Clovis, New

Mexico, Expedition of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Phila-

delphia, I had the opportunity to take several side trips for the

purpose of collecting invertebrate fossils and recent molluscs. On

one of these trips Malcolm Bull, a member of the expedition and

a resident of Canyon, Texas, escorted me to Paladora Creek which

lies four miles east and three miles north of Canyon, Texas.

Paladora Creek which has cut deep into this barren plain region

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 15

of the "Panhandle" of Texas has formed the Paladora Canyon.

In this canyon and along the banks of the creek I secured from

large piles of drift debris the following species with the exception

of the Sphaerium, Physa and Uniomeriis, which were found living

in the creek.

Sphaerium sulcatum (Lam.), var. Carychium exiguum Say.

Pisidium compressum Prime. Vertigo ovata Say.

Musculium transversum (Say). Hawaiia minuscula (Binney).

Uniomerus tetralasmus camptodon (Say). Helicodiscus parallelus (Say).

Gastrocopta armifera (Say). Gyraulus parvus (Say).

Gastrocopta cristata (Pils. and Van.). Pupoides marginatus (Say).

Gastrocopta procera (Gld.). Physa gyrina Say.

Gastrocopta pellucida hordeacella (Pils). Succinea avara Say.

Vallonia costata (Mull.). Lymnaea oorussa Say.

Vallonia perspective Sterki. Helisoma trivolvis (Say).

I wish to thank Dr. Henry A. Pilsbry who helped me with the

identification of the above species and Dr. Stanley T. Brooks for

identifying the Sphaerium, which is rather unlike the usual East-

ern form of S. sulcatum.

NEW SPECIES OF UROCOPTIS AND EUGLANDINA

BY HENRY A. PILSBRY

Urocoptis (Autocoptis) maxwelli, new species. Vol. 51, pi. 7,

fig. 11.

The shell is cylindric, short and wide, about equally blunt at the

ends. The summit is very shortly conic, several early whorls lost

in the adult stage, the breach closed by a convex septum. The

whorls are but slightly convex, joined by a linear, not crenulated

suture, the last rounded at the base, not keeled. Surface white

with a few scattered dusky spots. Sculpture of very fine, rather

weak hair-like striae. The aperture is subcircular with slight

irregularity ; the peristome somewhat expanded, its plane not car-

ried forward quite to the anterior outline of the shell, in contact

with the preceding whorl for a short distance and thickened in

that part. The internal axis is rather thin and decidedly twisted

in the upper half, becoming rather thick in the penult and last

whorls.

Length 13 mm., diam. (above aperture) 6 mm.; 6^ whorls

maining. Type.

Length 13.5 mm., diam. (above aperture) 7 mm.; 5^ whorls

remaining. Type.

16 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

Near Capuy, Santo Domingo. Type 169741 ANSP., others in

the Maxwell Smith collection.

The snail is closely related to II . olssoni Pils. from Monte Cristo,

but it is less glossy and differs by having the columellar axis decid-

edly thickened in the later whorls. In U. olssoni it is thin through-

out. Fewer whorls have been lost at the summit than in olssoni.

While the base does not have a carina as in typical Autocoptis,

there are often several low spiral welts on the last whorl.

EUGLANDINA BALESI, 11. Sp.

Puerto Marquez, south of Acapulco, Mexico, among leaves under

mango trees. Type 170440 ANSP., collected by Dr. B. R. Bales,

1938 ; other specimens in the Bales collection.

Shell similar in general appearance to E. turris (Pfr.), cinna-

mon colored glossy, with straight-sided spire not attenuated to-

wards the obtuse apex. The first three whorls are smooth, striae

then beginning, at first weak, but becoming rather strong regular

and smooth on the later whorls. They do not unite by pairs or

pass over the sutural margination, and there is no spiral sculpture.

From the fourth whorl on there is a very distinct, nearly smooth,

seam-like subsutural margin defined by a groove, and about 0.25

mm. wide on the last whorl. The aperture occupies less than half

of the total length. Columella evenly arched, without a callous

edge.

Length 35.4 mm., diam. 13.6 mm., aperture 16 mm. ; 7 whorls.

Type.

Length 35.1 mm., diam. 14.2 mm., aperture 18 mm. ; 6| whorls.

Chiefly characterized by the smooth striation and very distinct

sutural margin. The second specimen measured differs from the

type by the somewhat larger aperture and by having the columella

straight. It will be illustrated in the next number of Nautilus.

BUSYCON CARICA (GMELIN) AS A GENOTYPE

BY BUENETT SMITH

The genus Busycon, usually attributed to Bolten, was first pro-

posed by Roding.1 Six species are given: Busycon muricatum or

i Boding, Peter Friedrich : Museum Boltenianus sive Catalogus cimeliorum

e tribus regnis naturae quae olim collegerat. Pars Secunda continens Con-

chylia sive Testaeea univalvia, bivalvia & multivalvia. Pp. VIII, 199. 1798.

Beprint. See p. 149.

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 17

the Murex carica of Gmelin, B. perversum, B. dubtum, B. cingu-

latum, B. inversum, and B. canaliculatum. The species dubium,

cingulatum, and inversum are not referred to figures and are

therefore not identifiable. This restricts a discussion of the nomen-

clature to the three species muricatum, perversum, and canalicu-

latum. The name muricatum given above was used by Lister

("Muricata") but as this writer is pre-Linnsean and not bi-

nomial Roding 's first listed species will in this paper be called

carica — its proper designation. The starting point for a nomen-

clatorial investigation then appears to be Murex carica of Gmelin,

that is, Busy con carica (Gmelin).

Busy con carica (Gmelin)

Roding 's first species of Busy con is listed thus : " B. Muricatum.

Die stachlige Feige. Gmel. Murex carica sp. 67. Mart. 3. t. 67. f.

744. & t. 69. f. 756." The figures Roding cites are also given by

Gmelin. A discussion of these figures will be delayed until the

first two figure references of Gmelin2 have been considered. The

first reads "List. Conch, t. 880. f. 3. b."3 On consulting the re-

print of Lister's work by L. W. Dillwyn (1823) it is found that

pi. 880, fig. 3b shows a shell referable to what is now very generally

known as Fulgur or Busycon carica. Good 20th Century figures

for comparison with Lister's may be found in the Maryland

Geological Survey's report on the Pliocene and Pleistocene, pis.

XLIII-XLV.

Gmelin 's second figure reference for the species reads "Gualt.

test. t. 47, fig. B. ' '* Gualtieri's figure makes a very fair check with

that shown on pi. XLIII of the Maryland report just mentioned

and may be accepted as representing the Fulgur or Busycon carica

of modern usage.

Before taking up the remaining figures given by Gmelin it is

believed advisable to call attention to the fact that the species now

2 Gmelin, Jo. Frid. : Caroli A Linne. Systema Naturae. Tom. I. Pars VI.

For pp. 3021-3910 a statement "1791 before May 14" has been pasted in

the volume at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. See p.

3545.

3 Lister, Martini : Historia Sive Synopsis Methodica Conchyliorum, pi. 880,

fig. 3b.

* Gualtieri, Nicolai: Index Testarum Conchyliorum. Florentiae. 1742.

See pi. 47, fig. B.

18 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

being considered was erroneously included by Linnaeus5 in his

Murex aruanus. This description is "M. testa patulo-caudata,

spira spinoso-coronata. " The references given are ' ' Bumph. mus.

t. 28. /. A." and "Gvalt. test. t. 47. /. B." The description, if so it

may be termed, is concluded with "Habitat ad Novam Guineam."

The figure given by Rumphius6 shows the well-known Megala-

tr actus aruanus (Linn.) reversed in the process of illustration.

In a discussion of this last named species Hedley7 says "Hanley

has shown (Ipsa Linneei Conchylia, 1855, p. 301, and Journ. Linn.

Soc. Zool. iv. 1860, p. 78) that the Linnean species Murex aruanus

referred by nomenclature, description and bibliography to two

species. One, an American shell, was separated in 1788 from

aruanus by Gmelin as Murex carica. The other, an Australian

shell, was renamed Fusus proboscidiferus by Lamarck in 1822."

The incongruity of applying the specific name "aruanus" to the

American shell is noted by Hedley. He further argues "that as

the Linnean designation covered two species, the proper course to

adopt is to accept the first revision — in this case Gmelin 's. ' ' The

present writer is in complete accord with Hedley 's views and

favors the retention of the term "carica" for the American shell.

The injection of the term "aruanus" into the discussion would

indeed be of secondary importance were it not that a number of

authors8 have favored its use for the American shell. Two at

least have selected Murex aruanus as the type species of Busycon.

Such a type selection for Busycon is precluded by the fact that

sLinnaei, Caroli: Systema Naturae. Tomus I. Editio Deeima, Keformata.

1758. See p. 753.

s Eumphius, Georgius Everhardus: D 'Amboinsche Kariteitkarner. 1705.

See pi. XXVIII, fig. A.

7 Hedley, Charles : Studies on Australian Mollusca. Part I. Proc. Linn.

Soe. N.S.W., 1900, Part 1, April 25th. Pp. 87-100, pis. Ill, IV. See p. 98.

s Herrmannsen, A. N. : Indicis Generum Malacozoorum Primordia. Vol. I.

1846. See pp. 148, 149.

Gray, John E. : A List of the Genera of Recent Mollusca, their Synonyma

and Types. Proc. Zool. Soc. London. Part XV. 1847. See p. 135.

Hanley, Sylvanus: Ipsa Linnsei Conchylia. London, 1855. See pp. 301,

302.

Hanley, Sylvanus: On the Linnean Manuscript of the 'Museum Ulricse. '

Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society. Zoology IV. London,

1860. See p. 78.

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 19

Murex aruanus was not one of the original species of Busycon

occurring in Roding's list. Before Roding's list appeared Murex

carica had already been removed by Gmelin from the Murex

aruanus of Linnasus. The second figure reference of Linnaeus

(10th Edition) and the second figure reference of Gmelin are

identical.

Returning now to the remaining figures cited by Gmelin it is

found that Knorr figured Busycon eliceans (Montfort) and that

Martini figured not only B. carica and B. eliceans but Galeodes

morio (L.) as well.

These figures may now be taken up in detail. Gmelin, in addi-

tion to references already considered, give next "Knorr Vergn. 1.

t. 30. f. 4. et 6. t. 27. f. I."9 The first figure given should read 1

and not 4. This figure is poor but shows what is rather surely not

the accepted Busycon carica. The subject is too spinose. The

date of this figure is 1757. The second figure represents an im-

mature individual of the Fulgur eliceans of Montfort.10 The date

of this figure is 1772.

Gmelin 's fourth and last citation is "Martin. Conch. 3. t. 67. f.

744. et t. 69. f . 756.757. ' '1X Figure 744 represents Fulgur eliceans

Montfort while figure 756 shows what is ordinarily called Fulgur

or Busycon carica and is well illustrated as noted before in the

Maryland Geological Survey's report on the Pliocene and Pleisto-

cene (Pis. XLIII-XLV). Figure 757 does not represent a Busy-

con or Fulgur but shows Galeodes morio (Linn.) which antedates

the work of Gmelin and is automatically ruled out of his Murex

carica. Montfort by describing Fulgur eliceans in 1810 has

thereby left the Murex carica of Gmelin a homogeneous species.

This homogeneous species is Busycon carica (Gmelin), that is, the

Fulgur carica (Gmelin) so well illustrated in the Maryland report

just noted.

» Knorr, Georg Wolf ang : Vergniigen der Augen und des Gemiithes in

Vorstellung einer algemeinen Sammlung von Muscheln und andern Geschopf en

welche im Meer gefunden werden. Niirnberg. 4 vols, and 6 parts. 1757-

1772.

10 Montfort, Denys De: Conchyliologie Systematique. Tome Second.

Paris, 1810. See pp. 502-504, fig. on p. 502.

« Martini, Friedrich Heinrich Wilhelm : Neues Systematisches Conchylien-

Cabinet. Ill Band Numbere, 1777. ^".'

20 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

Homogeneous, well denned, common, and the first species of

Busycon given by Roding, Murex carica Gmelin, that is, Busycon

carica (Gmelin), would appear on these grounds alone to make

an ideal type species for the genus Busycon. Furthermore, the

name Busycon carica appears to have the protection of the "abso-

lute tautonymy" rule.12 The present writer has so far failed to

discover that any author subsequent to Roding has selected or

designated one of the original species of Busycon as the type of

the genus. The name carica has a number of times been mentioned

as that of the first species of Busycon.13 Such mention, however,

does not constitute a selection or designation of the type species

of the genus Busycon. In the hope of clarifying the situation, fix-

ing a reasonable genotype, and reinforcing the protection of

tautonymy this is now being done according to the following

statement: Busycon Roding [Bolten], Museum Boltenianum,

1798, p. 149 : type, Murex carica Gmelin.

Fulgur is the most important synonym for Busycon. The type

species of Fulgur is Fulgur eliceans Montfort. Although Mont-

fort cites "Murex perversus" in his synonymy the genus is really

monotypic. This makes erroneous Cossmann's assertion that

"Murex perversus, Lin." is the type of Fulgur.14

In the preparation of these notes the writer has had the benefit

of advice from the following specialists — Dr. Katherine V. W.

Palmer, Dr. H. Burrington Baker, and Dr. Henry A. Pilsbry.

12 Schenk, Edward T. and John H. McMasters : Procedure in Taxonomy.

Stanford University Press. 1936 (?). See p. 34.

13 Dall, William Healey : Early History of the Generic Name Fusus.

Journal of Conchology. April 1906. See p. 296. This is more correctly a

f erence to Fulgur eliceans Montfort, although the word ' ' carica ' ' is used

by Dall.

Dall, William Healey: A Monograph of the Molluscan Fauna of the

Orthaulax pugnax Zone of the Oligocene of Tampa, Florida. U. S. Nat. Mus.,

Bui. 90, 1915. See p. 66. The word "carica" is used but the reference is

really to Fulgur eliceans Montfort.

Wade, Bruce: An Upper Cretaceous Fulgur. Am. Journ. Sci., 4 ser.,

XLIII, 1917, p. 294. The word "carica" is used but the reference is to

Fulgur eliceans Montfort.

Wade, Bruce : The Fauna of the Bipley Formation on Coon Creek, Tennes-

see. U. S. G. S. Prof. Paper 137. 1926. See p. 137. Type of Proto-

busycon but not of Busycon designated.

14 Cossmann, M. : Essais de Paleoconchologie Comparee. Livr. 4. 1901.

See p. 76.

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 21

A NEW PSEUDOMELATOMA FROM CALIFORNIA

BY TOM BUECH

Recently the author dredged a series of shells off Redondo Beach

that are apparently living representatives of Grant and Gale's

Pseudomelatoma penicillata var. semiinflata. There are certain

differences, however, and in studying the shells with M. Gordon,

G. Willett, and U. S. Grant, the following differences between P.

penicillata and its variety semiinflata were observed : The typical

form is covered by a thin brown periostracum, while the living

specimens of semiinflata are covered by a very hard, heavy, black

periostracum. Both the inner and outer lips of semiinflata have

a heavy white callus, while neither lip of Penicillata has a callus.

The most outstanding differences between the two forms are that

semiinflata has a secondary notch on the outer lip near the canal,

and prominent spiral sculpture on the base of the penultimate

whorl, neither of which is found on P. penicillata. Also, the

periphery and base of the penultimate whorl on semiinflata is much

more gently rounded. Because of these and other minor differ-

ences, the author thinks it advisable to raise the variety semiinflata

to a species.

Although the series shows a slight variation in the number of

ribs, the author presents the following variety :

Pseudomelatoma semiinflata var. redondoensis n. var. Fig. 2.

Shell brown under a black periostracum. Longitudinal sculp-

ture consisting of 14 low, slightly oblique ribs, weaker than on

typical semiinflata and evanescing below the periphery of the

penultimate whorl. Whorls of spire subangular just anterior to

the suture. Spiral sculpture more prominent on the base than

on spire and consisting of slightly raised lirae.

Dimensions : alt. 45 mm. ; length of aperture, 18 mm. ; diameter

of body whorl, 12 mm.

Holotype : number 381, Allan Hancock Foundation Collection.

Dredged in 25 fathoms on gravel bottom off Redondo Beach, Cali-

fornia, May 8, 1938, by T. A. Burch, J. Q. Burch, and M. Gordon.

Nineteen other specimens were dredged at the same locality during

the winter of 1937-38. These paratypes have been distributed

to the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia, No. 170481,

22

THE NAUTILUS

[Vol. 52 (1)

Fig. 1. Pseudomelatoma semiinflata Grant and Gale, from Pleistocene of

Baldwin Hills, Calif. Fig. 2. Pseudomelatoma semiinflata redondoensis n.

var., type specimen from 25 fathoms off Eedondo Beach, Calif. Fig. 3.

Pseudomelatoma penicillata (Carp.), from Scammon's Lagoon, L. C.

U. S. National Museum, California Academy of Sciences, and to

the collections of G. Willett, U. S. Grant IV, M. Gordon, P. Con-

nolly, and T. & J. Burch. One specimen was dredged by the

author off Avalon, California in 25 fathoms, another by the Kerck-

hoff Labratories off Newport Bay, California, and still another

was collected at low tide in Newport Bay by Mr. Whitmore of

Redondo Beach.

THE TYPE OF POLYGYRA SAY

BY H. A. PILSBRY

Although the selection of a genotype for Polygyra was consid-

ered briefly by the writer in 1930 (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila.

82: 311) and by Dr. Harald A. Rehder in 1936 (Nautilus 49:

102), it appears that some further notes are needed for a full

understanding of the matter.

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 23

Say instituted the genus Polygyra in 1818 for three species:

P. auriculata, P. avara and P. septemvolva, which he described in

the same paper.

In his Index Molluscorum, etc., 1837, pp. 21, 23, Beck divided

Polygyra into two subgenera: (1) Daedalochila, a new subgenus

for P. auriculata Say and P. avara Say, and (2) "Polygyra Say"

in a restricted sense for the following :x

P. insularum B. [nude name]

P. contortuplicata B. [nude name]

P. planorbula Lm. [ =P. septemvolva Say]

P. septemvolva Say

P. heligmoidea d'Orb.

Of these species the first two had not been described in 1837,

and are thus excluded from consideration. The third, planorbula

Lamarck, is recognized as a synonym of P. septemvolva Say. P.

heligmoidea is obviously Orbigny's "Helix" heligmoidea from

Guayaquil, superficially somewhat similar to P. septemvolva but

now known to belong to the Streptaxidae.

By crediting Polygyra to Say and including septemvolva, one

of Say's species, Beck practically indicated the genotype. P. sep-

temvolva is the only eligible species in the list, since Orbigny's

species is excluded because it was not in Say's original publication

of the genus. Polygyra Say, as restricted by Beck, was therefore

virtually monotypic ! However, there was no more definite type

designation.

In November, 1847, J. E. Gray, in a list of molluscan genera

their synonyms and types (Proc. Zool. Soc. London, part 15, p.

173) , has the following two entries bearing on Polygyra.

"Polygyra, Say, 1817; Swains, 1840. Helicodonta Ferus.

Daedalochila Beck, 1837. P. auriculata."

' ' Polygyra, sp. Say, Beck. Helix septemvalva. ' '2

Thus Gray designated two types for Polygyra on the same page.

It might be argued that Gray named a type for Polygyra Say and

1 Beck included also, but with a " %" three other species ; but these are

excluded from consideration as genotypes by the International Eules, Art.

30, II, e, y.

2 ' ' Helix septemvalva ' ' is evidently a typographic error for septemvolva.

Gray's paper abounds in errors; there are two in this short quotation. The

date 1817 is wrong for Polygyra.

24 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

then another for Polygyra Beck. But the record shows that Beck

was not proposing a new subgenus, but merely restricting Say's

genus. I believe that any zoologist would consider Gray's desig-

nation of a type for "Polygyra sp. Say, Beck," as a perfectly

valid type designation for Polygyra Say.

Since Gray, as we have seen, named two types for Polygyra, the

final choice of one genotype rests with the next author dealing

with the genus. That was Herrmannsen, Dec. 7, 1847, Indicis

Generum Malacozoorum Primordia, 2 : 317, who designated Helix

septemvolva Say the type of Polygyra Say.

It should be added that I have had the benefit of advice on the

technical points of the case from Dr. Witmer Stone of the Interna-

tional Commission on Nomenclature, and from Dr. H. Burrington

Baker.

A PLEISTOCENE SNAIL FROM SAN MIGUEL

ISLAND, CALIFORNIA

BY T. D. A. COCKERELL

In May I spent a week on San Miguel Island, and while there

was kindly taken by Mr. H. S. Lester to the locality where he

found remains of fossil elephants (thought to be of two species)

some years ago. The elephant beds, obviously of Pleistocene age,

occur on the north side of the island, at the top of the slope or cliff,

and the material, evidently once mud, is now extremely solid and

hard to work; had it not been so, it would long ago have been

eroded away. I found fragments of elephant tusks, and part of

a bone of some other animal, while here and there Mr. Lester and

I found snail shells embedded. These are much smaller than the

living species of the island, but presumably ancestral to it. The

fossil may be called

Helminthoglypta ayresiana lesteri n. subsp.

Similar to H. ayresiana (Newcomb), but max. diam. 14-16 mm.,

alt. 10-11.5 mm. ; the single band, and the sculpture, with distinct

spiral lines, as in H. ayresiana. One shell, perhaps not strictly

contemporaneous with the others, is larger, max. diam. 20 mm.,

and more flattened than usual. Type Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. No.

170430.

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 25

This fossil may well be considered a subspecies of H. ayresiana,

but perhaps it may be better to treat it as a distinct species. The

original type of H. ayresiana had max. diam. 22 mm., alt. 15.

Curiously, the H. ayresiana shells from superficial (recent or

holocene) deposits in the immediate vicinity of the elephant local-

ity are unusually large with max. diam. 24 to 27 mm.

FURTHER NOTES ON THE LOCATION OF COPIES

OF SAY'S AMERICAN CONCHOLOGY

BY H. E. WHEELER

A few more copies of Say's American Conchology have been

reported since the addenda to this study appeared in the last issue

of the Nautilus.

Dr. William G. Mazyck, of Charleston, South Carolina, reports

that he has a copy originally belonging to Mr. Thomas Bland,

which contains his autograph. It has all seven parts, including

the Synonymy and Appendix, but lacks the Glossary and covers.

It is neatly bound and in exceptionally fine condition.

Mr. E. R. Sykes, of Littlemayne, Dorchester (Dorset), England,

reports having a bound copy originally purchased in parts, but

lacking the Glossary. It contains the Appendix, but it is not

stated whether it includes Part VII.

Dr. J. H. Beal, of Cocoa, Florida, writes that he has a bound

copy containing all seven parts together with the covers and

Glossary. This copy will rank with the few complete copies

known.

The Alabama Museum of Natural History, University, Alabama,

reports an incomplete copy originally in the library of the late

Dr. Eugene Allen Smith which was purchased by him in 1875.

It contains only four parts with their covers bound in at the back.

The plates are irregularly inserted. It was supposed that Dr.

Truman H. Aldrich had a copy of this work, but though his con-

chological library is also at the Museum, it has not yet been located.

The Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, Pa., reports a copy from

the library of Dr. George H. Clapp, which contains all seven parts

with the covers, but which lacks the Glossary. Inserted in this

copy is a letter from Mr. Say in his own handwriting, dated April

26 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

10, 1829, addressed to Dr. Griffith, stating that his plates for parts

one and two of the American Conchology were struck off and

waited only the completion of the letter press. It is supposed that

another copy of this work with uncolored plates is in the Carnegie

Museum library but so far it has not been located.

The author expresses his appreciation to all correspondents who

have so kindly responded to his request for information.

FURTHER NOTES ON ARCHACHATINA

BY J. BEQUAERT AND W. J. CLENCH

Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass.

1. Our recent revision of Archachatina (1936, Rev. Zool. Bot.

Afric, XXIX, pp. 73-96) groups the species into three subgenera.

In naming these we overlooked, however, that Pilsbry, some years

ago (1919, The Nautilus, 32, p. 99, footnote 3), divided the genus

into two groups, Archachatina, proper, restricted to A. hicarinata

(Bruguiere) ; and the subgenus Calachatina for the remaining

species, with A. marginata (Swainson) as type. Our subgenus

Megachatina, having the same type, becomes a synonym of Cala-

chatina. That name has been completely ignored thus far. It is

not listed in the Index to vol. 32 of The Nautilus, in the Zoological

Record, in Thiele's "Handbuch der Weichtierkunde, " and in the

"Nomenclator Animalium Generum et Subgenerum" now being

published in Berlin.

2. Our new subgeneric names were unfortunately spelled in two

ways in our paper. We must therefore state that the spelling as it

appears first should be retained (p. 76) : Megachatina (not

Magachatina, as on p. 78) and Megachatinopsis (not Megachati-

nops, as on p. 87).

3. Mr. H. A. Rehder informs us that, strictly speaking, Herr-

mannsen did not designate the type of Archachatina, since he did

not use the word "type" in his Supplement of 1852, as he did

in the earlier two parts of the ' ' Index. ' ' It may be more correct

to date the designation of A. hicarinata as the genotype from

Pilsbry (1904, Man. of Conchology, XVII, p. 104).

4. We have recently received from Mr. G. Schwab a large lot of

Archachatina collected at Edea, Cameroon. It included five speci-

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 27

mens of A. adelinae Pilsbry. In comparing these with other speci-

mens in our Museum, we discovered that we had been mistaken in

regarding Achatina modestior 0. Boettger as a synonym of A.

adelinae. We were misled, first, by Boettger 's referring to his

modestior the snails from Cameroon (Etome and Bonge) which

d'Ailly had called A. knorrii. Two of these, from Etome, now

before us, are unquestionably adelinae Pilsbry. In the second

place, Pilsbry stated in 1905 that his adelinae "seemed to be quite

identical" with modestior; but he had evidently not compared

specimens. A more careful study of two paratypes of modestior,

as well as of the original description and figures of that species,

leaves no doubt that it is a valid species of Archachatina. Of true

adelinae we have now before us specimens from "West Africa,"

Gaboon and Cameroon (Etome ; Bakundu Kaki near the Elephant

Lake; Edea). Of modestior we have seen, besides two paratypes

from Bibundi, two specimens from Moliwe Plantation near Vic-

toria (both localities in Cameroon). The specimens from Yaunde

and Kribi, listed in our paper as adelinae, are not now available

and may have been either species.

5. Our Archachatina adelinae var. candefacta is a form of

modestior, not of adelinae. It should be called Archachatina

modestior var. candefacta.

NOTE ON UNREPORTED MARINE MOLLUSCS FROM

SANIBEL, FLORIDA

Editor of the Nautilus :

Dredging operations in the Gulf of Mexico from one half to

fifteen miles off shore from Sanibel and Captiva Islands, and in

from three to seven fathoms of water, have yielded specimens of

species listed below which have not been reported from this locality

so far as we are able to find.

Living specimens were taken except where noted.

Area auriculata Lamarck

Astraea brevispina Lamarck. Dead shell

Caecum carmenense de Polin

Calliostoma sp.

Cancellaria conradina Dall

Cardiomya sp.

28 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

Chione intapurpurea Conrad

Codakia orbicularis Linne

Colubraria lanceolata Menke

Corbula carabaea d'Orbigny

Corbula contracta Say

Corbula cubaniana d'Orbigny

Corbula swiftiana C. B. Adams

Crucibulum striatum Say

Cymatosyrinx moseri Dall

Cymatosyrinx thea carminura Dall

Diadora listeri d'Orbigny. Dead shell

Divaricella quadrisulcata d'Orbigny. Fresh valves

Epitonium denticulatum Sowerby. Fresh shell

Gafrarium cerina C. B. Adams

Lamellaria pellucida Verrill

Leucozonia cingulifera Lamarck

Lucapina cancellata Sowerby

Lucapina limatula Reeve

Lydiphnis (Circulus) trilix Bush

Macoma brevifrons Say

Melanella bilineata Alder

Melanella intermedia Coutraine

Melongena corona altispira Pilsbry and Vanatta

Modulus modulus modulus Linne

Nassarius sp.

Niso interrupta interrupta Sowerby

Pecten raveneli Dall

Pecten ziczac Linne

Pseudochama radians variegata Reeve

Smaragdia viridis Linne

Spondylus echinatus americanus Lamarck

Tar as sp., fresh valves

Tellina interrupta Wood

Tellina sp., (versicolor Cozzens ?)

Trigoniocardium medium Linne. Fresh valves

Turritella subannulata acropora Dall

Vasum muricatum Born. Fresh shell

Xenophora conchyliophora Born

Louise M. Perry

Jeanne S. Schwengel

Ted Dranga

Sanibel, Florida.

25th April, 1938.

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 29

Since this list was in type the following additional species have

been determined :

Area Candida Gmelin

Transennella cubaniana d'Orb.

Odostomia trifida Totten

Odostomia bisuturalis Say

Olivella pusilla Marrat

Olivella blanesi Ford

Clathrodrillia pentagonalis Dall

Microtralia, new species.

OPE AS GRACILE HUTTON IN ALABAMA

BY H. E. WHEELEE AND ALLAN F. AECHER

For the first time Opeas gracile has been found in an interior

locality in the southeastern United States. The locality is the

intersection of Sixteenth Street and Tenth Avenue in the heart of

a residential section of Birmingham, Alabama. The habitat is a

vacant lot used occasionally as a fair grounds by the colored people

of the vicinity. Opeas gracile lives here in the black friable soil

under brick piles, themselves overgrown by Bermuda grass and

herbaceous weeds. Associated with it, and living under the same

bricks and granite paving blocks, or in the weeds, are the following

mollusks : Hawaiia minuscula (A. Binn.) ; Zonitoides arboreus

(Say) ; Polygyra hopetonensis (Shutt.) ; Polygyra inflecta (Say) ;

Polygyra thyroidus (Say) ; Gastrocopta armifera (Say) ; Gastro-

copta procera (Gould) ; Pupoides marginatus (Say).

The underlying soil is chert supposedly weathered from a dolo-

mite of Ordovician age. The valley floor lying between Cemetery

Ridge, at the southern edge of which this habitat is located, and

Red Mountain is of Cambrian age. Red Mountain is the source of

the various seams of Silurian hematite which give this district its

economic importance. The dolomites of the Valley, known as

Jones Valley, is of purer character than the ridge dolomite and

does not weather into a chert. From it is obtained the fluxes so

essential in the smelting of the iron ores of the contiguous moun-

tain.

Cemetery Ridge is, according to Dr. R. S. Poor of Birmingham-

Southern College, a low angle syncline (down-fold), and composed

30 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

of a chert weathered from a dolomite generally called Copper

Ridge dolomite. Near the habitat of the Opeas gracile on its

eastern contact it is faulted up. This dolomite is unsuitable as

a furnace flux.

This note is intended as an addition to the abstract of a paper

read by the junior author at the meeting of the Alabama Acad-

emy of Science in April, 1938, and published in the Proceedings,

Vol. 10, part 1, p. 4. In this paper Polygyra hopetonensis

(Shutt.) is for the first time reported from Alabama having been

discovered in various cultural areas in the city of Birmingham.

VALVATA PISCINALIS (MULLER) IN THE

GREAT LAKES

BY JOHN OUGHTON

This snail, a native of Europe, was first discovered in the Great

Lakes by Mr. F. C. Baker (and recorded as V. obtusa in Trans.

Acad. Sci., St. Louis, vol. 8 : p. 94, 1898). It was next noticed by

Chief Justice F. R. Latchford in Lake Ontario at Toronto (Nau-

tilus, vol. 28 : p. 10, 1914). Since that time, no mention has been

made of it.

On first acquaintance, this species might perhaps be called an

odd Valvata sincera or Amnicola. However, it is readily distin-

guished from our local species when its length (5 mm.), 4 obese

whorls, squat spire, narrow deep umbilicus, fine regular radial

striae and shining surface are all considered.

The purpose of these notes is to show its present range in the

Great Lakes and to include a few notes on abundance, habitat and

variation.

The author owes his thanks to the conchologists mentioned

below who kindly contributed information. Further, he is obliged

to Mr. G. E. Fairbairn, Mr. H. Sprague Troyer and Professor

J. R. Dymond for assistance.

Sources of published information follow:

1. Museum of Natural History, University of Illinois, Urbana,

Illinois, Mr. F. C. Baker : 1 record.

2. Private collection: Mr. C. L. Blakeslee, Buffalo, N. Y., five

records.

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 31

3. Private collection: Hon. Chief Justice F. R. Latchford,

Toronto, Ontario, 1 record.

4. Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology, Toronto, Ontario, 10

records.

Only the specimens contained in the Latchford and the Royal

Ontario Museum of Zoology collections have been seen by the

writer.

In the following collections there are no additional records for

the Great Lakes :

5. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Penn. This

collection was inspected by the writer through the courtesy

of the Curator, Dr. H. A. Pilsbry.

6. Buffalo Museum of Science, Buffalo, New York : Mrs. Imo-

gene C. Robertson.

7. National Museum of Canada, Ottawa: Mr. Aurele La

Rocque.

8. University Museums, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,

Mich. Mr. Calvin Goodrich and Dr. H. Vander Schalie.

A small suite of the Toronto shells was submitted to Dr. Elmer

Berry, of the University of Michigan, for examination. He

declared it to be a characteristic lot of V. piscinalis.

In all instances, the records are based upon dead shells. Quite

a few are in fresh condition, however, and retain the operculum.

Lake Ontario

1. Charlotte, Rochester, Monroe Co., N. Y. No. 37842 Univ. of

Illinois : 5 specimens, Mr. F. C. Baker.

2. Grand View Beach (15 miles west of Genesee River), N. Y.

"A few specimens" Sept., 1936, Mr. C. L. Blakeslee.

1. Niagara-on-the-lake, Lincoln Co., Ont. (a) "Not as abun-

dant as at Port Weller," Nov., 1935, Mr. C. L. Blakeslee.

(b) Sept. 2, 1936, 10 shells, Royal Ontario Museum of Zool-

ogy.

2. Port Weller, Lincoln Co., Ont. "Abundant," June and

Nov., 1935, Mr. C. L. Blakeslee. (Note : The Lake Ontario

end of the Welland Canal is at Port Weller.)

3. Port Dalhousie, Lincoln Co., Ont. (a) June, 1936, Mr. C. L.

Blakeslee. (b) Aug. 22, 1936, 6 shells, Royal Ontario

Museum of Zoology.

4. Long Branch, York Co., Ont. April 7, 1936, 6 shells, Royal

Ontario Museum of Zoology.

32 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

5. Near mouth of Humber River (Sunnyside Beach), Toronto,

York Co., Ont. Inside the breakwater. 15-20 shells,

Justice F. R. Latchford. A sample of this lot was identi-

fied by the late Dr. Bryant Walker, (b) 11 lots, totalling

about 1500 shells: Collected between April 25, 1931, and

Dec. 19, 1937, Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology.

6. Toronto Island, Toronto, York Co., Ont. (a) Exposed lake

shore. May 22, 1937, Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology,

22 shells, (b) Toronto Bay. Oct. 4, 1936 and May 22,

1937. 108 shells, 2 lots, Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology.

7. Oshawa, Ontario Co., Ont. Aug. 26, 1936: 2 shells, Royal

Ontario Museum of Zoology.

8. Cobourg, Northumberland Co., Ont. Oct. 11, 1936, 4 shells,

Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology.

9. Port Hope, Durham Co., Ont. April 13, 1934, 1 shell, Royal

Ontario Museum of Zoology.

10. Bay of Quinte, Belleville, Hastings Co., Ont. June 20, 1936,

1 shell, Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology.

Lake Erie

Presque Isle, Erie, Pa., July, 1936, "One empty specimen found in

a brief visit . . . " : Mr. C. L. Blakeslee.

No other records are known for Lake Erie, in spite of the fact

that it has been fairly well collected, within the last few years, by

conchologists on both north and south shores.

There are no records at hand from the remaining parts of the

Great Lakes system and the Ottawa River and upper St. Lawrence

River, although all these waters, with the exception of Lake

Superior, have been moderately well explored conchologically in

recent years.

(To be continued)

NOTES AND NEWS

Exact Dates of The Nautilus. — Volume 51 (1) : pp. 1-36, pis.

1-3, was mailed July 3, 1937 ; (2) : 37-72, pis. 4-6, Oct. 22, 1937;

(3) : 73-108, pis. 7-8, Jan. 18, 1938; (4) : 109-144 (+viii), pi. 9,

April 21, 1938.— H.B.B.

Dr. Fred Baker died in San Diego on May 16, in his eighty-

fourth year. An account of his life and conchological work will

appear in the next number.

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 33

Dr. F. Haas, formerly malacologist of the Senckeuberg Museum,

Frankfurt a. M., Germany, has accepted a position on the staff of

the Field Museum, beginning his duties on July 1.

Bensonies, new name for Bensonia Pfeiffer. — Bensonia

Pfeiffer, 1856, Malak. Bl. 2 : 119, type Nanina monticola Hutton,

1838, Journ. Asia. Soc. Bengal 7(1): 215, from western Hima-

layas, is preoccupied by Bensonia "Cantor" Gray, 1847, Proc.

Zool. Soc. London : 150. Bensonies, a genus of Tanyehlamydinae

(Helicarionidae), is accurately defined by Blanford and Godwin-

Austen, 1908, Fauna Brit. India, Testacellidae and Zonitidae :

171. H. BURRINGTON BAKER.

Rumina decollata (Linnaeus) is now thriving on cauliflower

and other vegetables in a garden in Pensacola, Escambia County,

Florida. A few specimens of this species was sent in to Dr. E. W.

Berger, Entomologist of the State Plant Board, Gainesville,

Florida, March 24, 1938, who brought them to the writer for iden-

tification. Dr. Berger then had their county agent, Mr. R. B.

Linger, who sent the samples, to send some more, fifty-two in all.

These were left alive for a few days and fed on cabbage, which

they seemed to relish, and proceded to laying eggs. This is the

first record of the introduction of this species into Florida that the

writer is aware of. The shells and eggs are in The Florida State

Museum. — T. Van Hyning, Director, The Florida State Museum.

Hydatina physis (L.) in Lake Worth, Florida. — Thirty liv-

ing specimens were taken in the southern end of Lake Worth in

March. About 10 were found burrowed with only a very small

portion of shell showing. The rest were moving. More than half

had moss on the back such as is found on shells living in Lake

Worth, indicating that they had wintered there. They were

moving toward the open sea, regardless of whether tide was with

or against, and seemed in great haste. Some few pairs were

nested (completely burrowed) and mating. None living were in

evidence since March 25. Mrs. Lyman is doing some investigating

today, March 29. She found one adult living specimen of Chione

latilirata Conr., which is now in the collection of Mrs. Beatrice

Procter, Palm Beach. — Frank B. Lyman.

34 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

Epitonium tollini Dall, new species. Plate 1, figure 7. The

above name seems to have been applied by Dr. Dall to a speci-

men sent to him by Oscar Tollin, but it would appear as if the

species had never been defined. In the collection of the U. S.

National Museum there is a series of specimens, some from Sanibel

Island and some from Marco, Florida. One, U.S.N.M. No. 188931,

marked "type" by Dr. Dall in his handwriting, bears the label

"Sanibel Island," and Dr. Dall mentions Souther as collector.

Another specimen, U.S.N.M. No. 108807, also labeled in Dr. Dall's

handwriting, bears the locality "Marco," and 0. Tollin as col-

lector. I shall consider Dall's selection of the type final.

The specimen in question is a slender scala, having lost prob-

ably a fraction of a turn at the tip and having nine whorls re-

maining. The first 1.5 of these turns are smooth; the rest are

inflated, very strongly rounded and separated by a very deeply

constricted suture and marked by 10 slender, decidedly lamellar,

very narrow, distantly spaced, axial riblets. These riblets extend

prominently to the summit and are attached to the preceding

turn. They likewise extend undiminished over the inflated and

rounded periphery to the umbilical chink. No spiral sculpture

is apparent. Aperture oval; peristome reflected and somewhat

thickened, decidedly so on the outer lip. The type measures 8 mm.

in length and 3.0 mm. in diameter. — Paul Bartsch.

Leiostraca schwengelae, a New Name. — When I described

Strombiformis hemphilli in my paper in 1917 in the Proceedings

of the U. S. National Museum, vol. 53, pp. 344-345, pi. 47, fig. 4,

I did not realize that this was congeneric with Eulima (Leio-

stracal) hemphillii Dall, 1883, Proceedings of the U. S. National

Museum, vol. 6, p. 330, pi. 10, fig. 4. My S. hemphilli will there-

fore have to be renamed, and I take pleasure in calling it

Leiostraca schwengelae for Mrs. Frank R. Schwengel who brought

the matter to my attention. — Paul Bartsch.

The Mollusks of Lake Tahoe. — Lake Tahoe, one of the largest

lakes in the western United States, lies near the crest of the Sierra

Nevada on the California-Nevada boundary at an elevation of

6225 feet. It catches the drainage from a considerable area close

by but has no large inlets. It drains to the north, then east by

July, 1938] THE NAUTILUS 35

Truckee River, which in turn empties into the closed basin of

Pyramid Lake, Nevada.

For many years it has been known that there are a few species

of fresh-water mollusks in Truckee River,1 but so far as we have

discovered Lake Tahoe is without a record. This seems strange

in view of the size of the lake, the purity of its waters and the

number of conchcologists who have visited it. Many have made

fruitless search of its shores and shallow waters. Several attempts

by us indicated that this was not the proper method for collecting

if the lake were not barren. This seemed inconceivable because

other conditions were such that mollusks could hardly be absent.

Reasoning from analogy with similar large lakes it seemed pos-

sible that in this case also these animals would be found in rela-

tively deep water. Therefore a dredge was taken to the lake in

October, 1933, and several hauls were made in depths up to 50

fathoms off Chambers Lodge on the west side. In every case

beyond 20 fathoms shells were found among the water plants

which came up. This procedure was followed on August 13, 1936,

with equally good or better results in 30 fathoms off Homewood

Resort.

The discovery of shells and the names of the few species found

seem worthy of record. These are : Pisidium sp., Parapholyx

effusa (Lea), Carinifex newberryi (Lea), Valvata humeralis cali-

fornica Pilsbry, and Lymnaea sp.

Undoubtedly additional species will be found when more thor-

ough dredging is undertaken. Tracks and furrows in the white

sand off Chambers Lodge resembled those made by Anodonta but

no specimens or fragments were obtained.

The above, however, were not the first shells actually collected in

the lake. During the interval from December, 1926, to March,

1927, James Moffitt collected six lesser scaup ducks there which

had fed on mollusks. The stomach contents of these birds were

100 per cent animal matter ; a very considerable part of this con-

sisted of fragments and entire shells of Carinifex newberryi (Lea) .

The identification was made by E. R. Kalmbaeh of the U. S.

i Carleton, Henry P. Shells of Truckee River and Vicinity. Proc. Calif.

Acad. Sci., Vol. 4, 1869. P. 57.

36 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (1)

Biological Survey. — G. D. Hanna and A. G. Smith, in California

Game and Fish, 23 : 244, July, 1937.

The Bernice P. Bishop Museum of Honolulu, in continuation of

its program on exploration in Oceania, has sent Dr. C. Montague

Cooke, Jr., staff malacologist, his assistant Y. Kondo, and Elwood

C. Zimmerman, staff entomologist, to Fiji for three months of in-

tensive field work. They will collect insects and land shells, plac-

ing special emphasis on the rediscovering of "lost" species and

the gathering of data pertinent to Pacific zoogeography. Some

of the more important islands of the Lau group, Ovalau and Viti

Levu will be visited.

AMERICAN MALACOLOGICAL UNION: EIGHTH

ANNUAL MEETING

The Eighth Annual Meeting of the American Malacological

Union will be held in Havana, Cuba, August 1st to 6th, 1938, as

guests of the Cuban Government.

A Cuban boat will transport members from Key West to Havana

on August 1st, returning them to Key West at the close of the

meeting. Rooms for fifty or more have been reserved at the Royal

Palm Hotel in Havana ; all without cost to members.

Please send titles, of papers and approximate time for delivery

to Dr. Carlos de la Torre, Museo Poey, Universidad de la Habana,

Cuba, to whom notice of intention to attend should also be sent

AT ONCE.

Notice should also be sent at the same time to the Financial

Secretary (Mrs. Imogene C. Robertson) so that information as

to details regarding accommodations in Key West and place of

meeting, not at present available, may be furnished.

Imogene C. Robertson,

Financial Secretary, A.M.U., Buffalo Museum

of Science, Buffalo, New York

DR. CARLOS DE LA TORRE

President American Malaeological Union, 193^

-1938.

IIRAR

The nautilus

Vol. 51 October, 1938 No. 2

A NEW CUBAN POLYDONTES

BY CAKLOS DE LA TOEEE

University of Habana

Among many land mollusks from Oriente Province collected for

me by Mr. Natenson, there is a handsome species of Polydontes

which is here named for him in acknowledgment of his excellent

work.

Polydontes natensoni, new species. PI. 3, figs. 2, 2a, 3.

The imperforate shell is solid, with conoidal spire, strongly

angular periphery and convex base ; covered with a honey yellow

periostracum with some faint darker streaks, and little darker

behind the lip, the first two whorls whitish. The upper surface is

matt, having a microscopic sculpture as though impressed by a

woven fabric; the base slightly polished. The embryonic whorls

are rather weakly granulose. On the penult whorl there are

short, smooth, irregular radial lines, very little raised, over the

woven texture mentioned above (fig. 2a). These disappear on the

last whorl. The whorls are moderately convex, the last becoming

rather strongly convex with loss of the peripheral angle near the

aperture, descending shortly in front. The aperture is strongly

oblique. Peristome is white, broadly reflected, thickened within,

its inner edge having a low, blunt tooth-like prominence near the

columellar insertion. The parietal callus is moderately thick,

semitransparent.

Height 27.3 mm., diam. 46.1 mm. ; 4| whorls. Type, figs. 2, 2a.

Height 27.8 mm., diam. 48.7 mm. ; 4£ whorls. Paratype, fig. 3.

Type locality: west side of the upper Rio Nibujon in western

Baracoa. Also in the Sierra de Moa. The type and a paratype

are No. 170966 Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia;

other paratypes in my collection.

This species is most nearly related to P. apollo (Pfr.) of the

Yunque de Baracoa, but that species differs by having the periph-

(37)

38 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (2)

ery strongly keeled; it is truly carinate, while P. naiensoni is

angular. There is also an important difference in the sculpture.

Both have the same microscopic texture, but in P. apollo the upper

surface is seen under the lens to be finely granulose, while in P.

natensoni there are curious short radiating markings as shown in

the detail figure (fig. 2a). This peculiar sculpture, as well as the

more strongly angular periphery, separate P. natensoni from

P. sobrina.

POLYDONTES NATENSONI MAURUS, new Subsp. PL 3, fig. 4.

The shape and sculpture are as described for P. natensoni except

that the last whorl descends somewhat more deeply in front.

Ground color as in P. natensoni but duskier, especially on the

upper surface, rather closely streaked with bone brown to nearly

black, with a black band below the peripheral angle and many dark

spiral lines both on the upper surface and the base.

Height 29 mm., diam. 50 mm. ; 4^ whorls. Type.

Height 32.1 mm., diam. 47.5 mm.

This form also comes from the Rio Nibujon in western Baracoa.

Type No. 170965 A. N. S. Phila. ; paratypes in my collection.

THE CUBAN SPECIES OF POLYDONTES

BY HENRY A. PILSBRY

The genus Pleurodonte, in the broad sense employed in volume

IX of the Manual of Conchology, contained three Cuban sub-

genera : Caracolus, Polydontes and Zachrysia. The last of these

was subsequently shown to have special anatomic characters

entitling it to generic rank. These distinctions have been con-

firmed by the later work of Jaume1 and of Moreno2 on the anatomy

of species I had not been able to dissect.

Some years ago I proposed to segregate Polydontes as another

group of generic value.3 Whether the genus is to be accepted, in

the limits suggested, can be determined only when more of the

1 Jaume, Miguel L. : Estudio Anatomico del Molusco Zachrysia rangelina,

Mem. Soc. Cubana Hist. Nat. 10: 29-31. 1936.

2 Moreno, Abelardo: Estudio Anatomico de Zachrysia petitiana (d'Orb.).

Mem. Soc. Cubana Hist. Nat. 12: 75-86. 1938.

3 Santo Domingo Land Mollusks, etc., Proc. A. N. S. Phila. 85: 141. 1933.

THE NAUTILUS: 52 (2)

PIjATK :■$

f

1a

1b

6

7

l-lb, Polydontes torn i Pils. 2, 2a, S, P. nat< nsoni Torre. 4, P. nati nsoni maurus

Torre. 5, P. apoZZo (Pfr.). 6, P. imperator Montf.

October, 1938] the nautilus 39

species of Haiti and Porto Rico are available for dissection. In

Polydontes imperator the terminal male organs are much as in

Zachrysia; but there is a well-developed vagina (this being elimi-

nated in Zachrysia) , and a rather long spermathecal duct (short

in Zachrysia). As a Cuban friend now possesses material for an

anatomic study of the Cuban species of Polydontes, no further

information need be given here.

All of the species have large, solid shells, which show more or

less minute granulation produced by the intersection of spiral and

radial lines, somewhat as if pressed on from a woven fabric. This

is microscopic in some species. The animals have the peculiar

faculty of self-amputation of the tail when disturbed, first de-

scribed by Gundlach (Malak. Blatter, 1860, p. 83, and 1861, p. 14).

He observed this in P. sobrina, P. imperator and P. apollo, and

noted that he found an individual growing a new tail.

Shells of all the Cuban species except P. sobrina are illustrated

on plate 3. It was worth a trip to Havana to see the fine new

Polydontes which Dr. de la Torre has brought together. All of

the figures of our plate, except fig. 6, are from specimens received

from him.

The genotype is Polydontes imperator Montfort, PI. 3, fig. 6.

The "Emperor polydont," remarkable for the many blunt teeth

on its thick lip, was the first species known. When Denys de

Montfort described and figured it in 1810 it was a great rarity.

"La plus rare de toutes les coquilles" he wrote, going on to say

that he never saw a second specimen, either in natural condition

or fossil. The habitat was vague: "II vient des Indes, et il est

terrestre." It has always been a scarce snail, living in rather

inaccessible places, and possessed by few collections until Gund-

lach found it living under dead leaves at Mate, Baracoa, in 1861.

It has recently been brought alive from La Uvilla, Jauco, on the

south coast of Baracoa. Their shell-heaps show that the Cuban

Indians consumed great quantities of these snails.

Polydontes sobrina4 (Ferussac), the "thick-lipped polydont,"

was the next species, defined in 1820 by figures of a bleached

"bone" of unknown origin, about 47-48 mm. in diameter. Sub-

1 Sobrina means a cousin on the maternal side; its application to this shell

not obvious, but perhaps Ferussac was thinking of its relationship with P.

imperator.

40 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (2)

sequently (1846) Pfeiffer described a fresh Cuban shell of the

same species, collected by Lindon, as Helix crassildbris. In 1860

Gundlach found it at Yateras. Mr. C. T. Ramsden has collected

fine specimens in the same region, on Monte Libano, Guantanamo,

the diameter about 45 mm. In this species the periphery varies

from bluntly angular to rounded. The color is dark, as in P.

natensoni maurus, with many dark spiral lines. The penult whorl

has distinct rounded granules rather closely scattered over a

"woven" ground, thus differing from P. natensoni and maurus,

which moreover, are more sharply angular. Very large "dead"

or subfossil specimens occur, up to 56 mm. diameter. It is widely

distributed in western Oriente. D 'Alte Welch and I found it in

woods north of the Cauto River, near Miranda.

Polydontes apollo (Pfeiffer), pi. 3, fig. 5, was the third species

discovered. Pfeiffer described it in 1860 from a specimen of

unknown locality, presumed to be Cuba from its relationships;

but in 1861 Gundlach turned it up, and in a letter to Pfeiffer told

of his joy at finding this charming snail. The ' ' Apollo polydont ' '

is a beautiful shell for its color and graceful lines. It is known

from the top of the Yunque de Baracoa only.

Polydontes natensoni Torre, pi. 3, figs. 2, 2a, 3. "Naten-

son's polydont," described on a previous page, is a fine snail

somewhat intermediate between P. sobrina and P. apollo in shape,

but differing from both in the minute sculpture. The typical

form resembles P. apollo in color, but the brunette race P. naten-

soni maurus, fig. 4, the "Moor polydont," is very dark, with many

dark spiral lines.

Polydontes torrei Pilsbry. "Torre's polydont" is, after P.

imperator, the most distinct Cuban species of the genus. It is

much more depressed than any other, the h/d index of the type

being about 37.35. In P. apollo, the only species at all similar, the

h/d index is about 57. It is a thinner shell than P. apollo, with

different minute sculpture and more oblique aperture. The

description of this species, which is named in honor of Dr. Carlos

de la Torre, follows.

Polydontes torrei, new species. PL 3, figs. 1, la, lb.

The shell is imperforate, moderately solid, lens-shaped, the spire

being very low conoidal, the periphery acutely carinate and the

October, 1938] the nautilus 41

base convex. Being ' ' dead ' ' the color is soiled white. Sculpture

of rather fine, unequal, distinct but unevenly developed growth

striae, which are strongly retractive on the upper surface, radiat-

ing on the base. On the first two whorls such striae appear below

the suture only; other sculpture, if present, being lost by wear.

On the last two whorls fine, close, radiating wrinkles crossed by

spiral lines appear, lacking in places, and at short intervals there

are wider radial wrinkles. The last whorl shows also a few short,

forwardly descending impressions crossing the striae at right

angles. On the base the radiating striae only are visible. The

whorls are nearly flat on the upper surface, the last descending in

front. The peristome is narrowly expanded above the periphery,

reflected at the base, dilated over the umbilicus. It is everywhere

strongly thickened within, and has a low but heavy callous promi-

nence on the inner margin close to the columellar insertion.

Height 19.5 mm., diam. 49.5 mm. ; 4| whorls.

The type is from a Canada on the far side of the Rio Toa,

Baracoa, collected by Mr. Natenson ; No. 170967 A. N. S. P. Para-

types in the Torre collection.

Key to Cuban Species of Polydontes

1. Peristome set with numerous blunt, unequal teeth, P. imperator

Montf.

Peristome toothless except for an obtuse prominence close to

the columella 2.

2. Periphery strongly carinate 3.

Periphery strongly angular; penult whorl with irregular,

smooth, short, radiating lines (fig. 2a) P. natensoni Torre.

Periphery bluntly angular or rounded ; penult whorl granu-

lose P. sobrina (Ferussac).

3. Moderately depressed, the height more than half of the diam-

eter P. apollo (Pfr. ) .

Strongly depressed, the height less than half of the diam-

eter P. torrei Pils.

MARINE COLLECTING ON THE WEST COAST

OF MEXICO

BY B. B. BALES, M.D.

It is not necessary to take a long sea trip to reach a locality

rich in tropical mollusca. We spent the winter of 1937-1938 on

the west coast of Mexico and had three fine months of shell collect-

ing at Acapulco. The Laredo-Mexico Highway from Laredo,

42 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (2)

Texas, to Mexico City, is a wonderful piece of engineering ; it has

a smooth crushed rock surface, no grade more than six percent,

and is a perfectly safe road. From Mexico City to Acapulco, in

the State of Guerrero, a distance of less than three hundred miles,

more than half of the road is like the Laredo highway; the re-

mainder is a well graded gravel road and easily negotiated by

automobile.

The purpose of this paper is to give to other shell collectors the

benefit of our experiences, should any wish to collect in this inter-

esting region. Acapulco is situated in Mexico 's west coast and is

the oldest seaport on the Pacific coast of the Americas ; it lies about

sixteen degrees north of the Equator. There are several very

fine collecting stations nearby — Playa Langosta, Playa Caleta,

Isla de Roqueta, Los Hornos, are all sure to yield good shells.

We found that probably the best place to stay while at Acapulco

was at Las Palmas Courts, just at the edge of the city where indi-

vidual apartments are available. There is a central dining room

where excellent food, both American and Mexican, is served. The

prices are reasonable and one can don his bathing suit in his

apartment and in less than a minute 's time be in a good collecting

location at Playa Langosta. All other hotels are located quite a

distance from the water.

Tides affect marine collecting at Acapulco less than at most

places, as the variation between high and low is not as marked

as in some, but the wind affects collecting more than tides, and

when there is windy weather, it is almost impossible to work in

the water.

Most of the specimens were taken by rolling over stones and

rocks ; by the use of the water glass and by using Japanese water

goggles when diving. In addition to personal collecting, many

fine specimens were purchased from the dozen or more women

who maintain small stands on the Plaza and who manufacture

small trinkets, such as necklaces, beads and other articles from

shells, to sell to tourists. Very often, choice specimens were ob-

tained at a ridiculously low cost from this source. The most diffi-

cult shell to purchase, strangely enough, was Dentalium semi-

politum Brod. & Sbjr., as the native women used them as "spacers"

when making a necklace, using them alternately with other shells.

October, 1938] the nautilus 43

It was much easier to buy a specimen of Pecten subnodosus or a

Harpa!

The habitat of some species in some cases differed from that of

eastern coast members of the same family. This was especially

true of the big handsome Cerithium adustum nebulosum Sby.

Many adult specimens inhabited by hermit crabs as well as small

living immatures were found, and for a time we were puzzled

as to the whereabouts of the living adults, but one day at Isla de

Roqueta, while moving stones imbedded in sand, searching for

chitons, a large colony of fine large adults was discovered by

scraping deeper in the sand.

Most interesting was the behavior of Chiton albolineatus Sby.

Previous experience with members of this family had been, that

when they were disturbed, they remained motionless. Not so with

albolineatus; as soon as a rock under which they were hiding was

turned, they immediately start to glide away to some place of

security. The same proved true with Tonicia forbesi Cpr. These

were invariably found under a cluster of sea urchins and protected

by them. They were found on the tops of submerged rocks and

as soon as the protecting sea urchins had been removed, the chitons

would start to glide to some protected crack or other hiding place

in the rock.

The various Conns were taken from the tops or sides of sub-

merged rocks by diving, but at various times, they were taken from

water not more than a few inches deep and on one occasion, one

was left by the receding tide fully exposed on the top of a large

rock. Most of the Murex were taken from depths of five or six

feet of water at low tide and the same was true of Vasum.

One fertile source of fine specimens was the camp of the "pearl

fishermen." These divers daily bring in their catch of Mar-

garitiphora mazatlanica Hani, and open them, searching for pearls.

The shells are then roughly cleaned and shipped away by the bar-

rel to firms who manufacture ornaments, etc., from the pearl shell.

Many fine specimens of Hipponyx, Crepidula, Crucibulum, and

others were obtained from them, and an occasional Cardita was

found attached to the byssus of the "pearl shell."

Good sized colonies of Astraea unguis Mawe and the interesting

Leucozonia cingulata Lam., were taken from protected places and

44

THE NAUTILUS

[Vol. 52 (2)

crevices among the large rocks that were exposed to rather rough

waves.

The truly spectacular Patella mexicana Sby., attaining a length

of eight or nine inches, was always seen on the tops of large rocks

that were exposed to the roughest waves, and many extra large

specimens were seen in places where the waves were so high that

it was impossible to reach them. Collecting the large Patellas was

always more or less dangerous due to these immense waves, and

on one occasion, I was dashed against a cliff and into a colony of

sea urchins. More than a hundred spines were later removed

from my anatomy. The native name for this Patella is ' ' Lappa ' '

and one must be armed with a leaf from an automobile spring to

pry them from the rocks.

The following is a list of species taken, and there is no doubt

that the number could be more than doubled in another season's

collecting, especially if a dredge is used.

Acanthina muricata Brod.

Acmaea aeruginosa Midd.

Acmaea discors Phil.

Acmaea fascicularis Mke.

Acmaea filosa Cpr.

Acmaea mitella Mke.

Acmaea pediculus Phil.

Anachis nigricans Rve.

Anachis pygmaeus Sby.

Anomalocardia subrugosa Sby.

Area grandis Brod.

Area illota Sby.

Area miitabilis Sby.

Area solida Brod. & Sby.

Architectonica granulata Lam.

Aspella obeliscus A. Ad.

Astraea unguis Mawe

Bulla gouldiana Pils.

Bulla punctata A. Ad.

Bursa albifasciata Sby.

Callistochiton elenensis Sby.

Callistochiton gabbi Pils.

Calliostoma eximium Rve.

Calliostoma lima Phil.

Calyptraea mamillaris Brod.

Cardita grayi Dall

Cardita radiata Sby.

Cardium consors Sby.

Cantharus sanguinolentus Duel.

Cassis abbreviatus Lam.

Cassis coarctatus Gray

Cassis sulcosa v. centiquadrata

Val.

Cerithidea iostoma Pfr.

Cerithium adustum v. nebido-

sum Sby.

Cerithium gemmatum Hds.

Cerithium ocellatum Brug.

Cerithium stercus-muscarum

Val.

Cerithium unicinctum Gmel.

Chaetopleura lurida Sby.

Chama buddiana C. B. Ad.

Chama echinata Brod.

Chione succincta Val.

Chione undatella Sby.

Chiton abolineatus Sby.

Chiton laevigatus Sby.

Columbella fuscata Sby.

Columbella major Sby.

Conus comptus Gld.

Conus gladiator Brod.

October, 1938]

THE NAUTILUS

45

Conus mix Brod.

Comes princeps L.

Conus puncticulatus Hwass.

Conus purpurascens Brod.

Conus regularis Sby.

Crassispira aterrima Sby.

Crepidula aculeata Gmel.

Crepidula adunca Sby.

Crucibulum imbricatum Sby.

Crucibulum scutulum Gray

Crucibulum spinosum Sby.

Crucibulum umbrella Desh.

Cymatium gibbosum Brod.

Cymatium tigrinum Brod.

Cypraea arabicula Lem.

Cypraea cervinetta Kien.

Donax carinatus Hani.

Donax petallinus Desh.

Donax punctostriatus Hani.

Donax transversus Sby.

Dosina annae Cpr.

Dosina dunkeri Phil.

Engina tobagaensis Bartsch

Eupleura triquetra Brod.

Fasciolaria granosa Brod.

Ficus decussata Wood

Fissurella alba Cpr.

Fissurella nigrocincta Cpr.

Fissurella rugosa Sby.

Fusus dupetithouarsi Kien.

Glycimeris gigantea Rve.

Harpa crenata Swain.

Hipponyx grayanus Mke.

Hipponyx pilosus Desh.

Ischnochiton limaciformis Sby.

Ischnochiton muscarius Rve.

Laevicardium elenensis Sby.

Latirus castaneus Rve.

Latirus ceratus Gray

Latirus rudis Rve.

Leucozonia dngulata Lam.

Lima pacifica Orb.

Lima tetrica Gld.

Lithophagus aristatus Dall

Lithophagus plumulus Hani.

Littorina aspersa Phil.

Littorina conspersa Phil.

Lucapinella inaequalis Sby.

Macrocallista aurantica Hani.

Macrocallista squalida Sby.

Mactra exoleta Gray

Malea ringens Swain.

Margaritiphora mazatlanica

Hani.

Mazatlania fidgurans Phil.

Melampus olivaceus Cpr.

Melanella micans Cpr.

Melongena patida Brod. & Sby.

Mitra lens Wood

Mitra tristis Brod.

Mitrella ocellata Gmel.

Mitrella ocellata v. guttata Sby.

Modiolus capax Con.

Modulus disculus Phil.

Morum tuberculosum Sby.

Murex bicolor Val.

Murex brassica Lam.

Murex elenensis Dall

Murex hippocastaneus Phil.

Murex nigritus Meuseh.

Murex oxycanthus Brod.

Murex princeps Brod.

Murex regius Wood.

Mytilus adamskinus Dkr.

Mytilus palliopunctatus Dkr.

Nassarius bailyi Pils. & Lowe

Nassarius corpulenta C. B. Ad.

Nassarius versicolor C. B. Ad.

Natica catenatus Phil.

Nerita ornata Sby.

Neritina punctulata Lam.

Olivancillaria hiatula Gmel.

Olivella gracilis Gray

OUvella volutella Lam.

Ostrea mexicana Sby.

Paphia staminea Con.

Patella mexicana Sby.

Pecten subnodosus Sby.

Pedalion anomioides Rve.

Pinna rugosa Sby.

46

THE NAUTILUS

[Vol. 52 (2)

Pitar affinis Gmel.

Pitar alternata Brod.

Pitar lupanaria Less.

Pitar unicolor Sby.

Planaxis nigritellus Fbs.

Plicatula dubia Han.

Polinices glauca Han.

Polinices otis Brod. & Sby.

Pustularia pustulata Lam.

Pyramidella panamensis Dall &

Bch.

Rissoina stricta Mke.

Sangninolaria tellenoides A. Ad.

Saxicava arctica L.

Semele flavescens Gld.

Semele simplicissima Pils. &

Lowe

Siphonaria lecanium Phil.

Siphonaria maura palmula Cpr.

Siphonaria pica Sby.

Sistrum ferrugineum Rve.

Spondylus calcifer Cpr.

Strigella fucata Gld.

Strombus galeatus Sby.

Strombus peruvianas Sby.

Surcula olivacea Sby.

Tegula impressa Jonas

Tegula mariana Dall

Tegula rubroflammulatum

Koch.

Tegula viridulum Gmel.

Tellina moeropsis Dall

Terebra albocincta Cpr.

Terebra luctuosa Hds.

Thais biserialis Blv.

T/wm patula L.

27iais triangularis Blv.

Thais triserialis Blv.

Tivela planulata Brod. & Sby.

Tonicia forbesi Cpr.

Trivia pacifica Gray

Turritella goniostoma Val.

Turritella tigrina Kien.

Vasum caestus Sby.

Fennels centiquadratus Val.

Vermicularm pellucida Brod.

ON THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF CERTAIN VARIA-

TIONS IN COLOR OF THE SHELL

IN THE GENUS LIGUUS

BY DE. EICARDO DE LA TORRE

University of Habana

Studying carefully the coloration in the different species and

varieties of land snails included in the genus Liguus, we can

observe that the coloration is highly variable from the young to

the adult; moreover, as the turns or whorls of the spire remain

exposed in this genus, the coloration changes notably from the

apex to the last whorl. This variation in coloration is practically

infinite. At first glance it does not seem to follow any rule or

arrangement; but as we study the different types of coloration

and its multiple combinations it is possible to observe that they

follow certain standards, which we will attempt to decipher so as

to indicate the probable underlying causes.

October, 1938] the nautilus 47

We will describe first the different types and afterward their

combinations.

In the first place it is possible to consider the patterns in two

large groups, according to whether the color dyes the periostracum

or the shell.

In the genus Liguus the periostracal coloration is confined to

green spiral lines, variable in number and width, and present in

nearly all specimens. These green periostracal lines are not sub-

ject to variation with age, and they remain constant in cases of

melanism, xanthism, or albinism, so frequent in Liguus. At the

same time, each green periostracal line ends in a notch in the outer

lip of the shell which is thereby crenulated. This character is

produced with or without the existence of other lines or colors,

and was referred to by Swainson in naming the variety known

as Liguus fasciatus crenatus Swainson.

This name is usually applied to all forms which possess green

lines only on a white ground, or in other words, forms which are

albinos so far as color of the shell under the periostracum is con-

cerned. This actually includes as many albinos as there are

species and varieties in the genus. This is very easy to demon-

strate by comparing the shape of each of them with that of the

albino having green lines only.

The other patterns of coloration belong properly to the shell, not

to the periostracum, and form more or less continual spiral lines

and bands (never green), and alternating, dark and light, com-

plete or incomplete, flame shaped, transverse bands, that may

coexist or not with the others.

Let us see now the distribution of this different type of colora-

tion upon the shell. The shell has a white background on which

the colors are distributed, covering it sometimes completely

(melanism). The spiral bands are disposed in two series, one

in the visible portion of the spire, the other basal, leaving between

them a wide band that may bear in the middle a central dark line

corresponding to the sutural line. In both zones, limited by the

bands, are disposed the alternating bands that may be so short

as to be merely series of spots (Liguus blainianus Poey, Liguus

pictus Reeve, etc.) . The alternating bands may become cloudy.

We are going to see now the disposition of color in different

48 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (2)

portions of the shell. The embryonic shell, first and second whorls,

are uniformly colored (white, pink, or brown) ; in the third, fourth

and fifth whorls predominate the alternating bands, very well

defined ; in the sixth and seventh the alternating bands may become

cloudy ; in the last portion of the seventh whorl all coloration dis-

appears gradually or abruptly, totally or partially, with the sole

exception of the green periostracal bands. These do not vary at

all, or they may become strongly marked. All other spiral lines

vary in color and intensity with the growth of the shell.

Probable causes of some of these variations. — It has been ob-

served that food may change coloration (some melanic forms by

tannin), but color-changes during life cannot be thus explained.

If we observe carefully the life of Ligaus we will detect that the

first important change coincides with sexual maturity, then the

second, and the last comes with old age, the intense coloration dis-

appearing more or less abruptly, leaving only well and persistently

marked the green periostracal lines ; so it appears that the changes

correspond to the appearing and the disappearing of the sexual

hormones. These changes exist also in other genera.

A NEW PSEUDOCHAMA FROM CLARION

ISLAND, MEXICO

BY G. WILLETT

One of the results of a recent trip to islands off the west coast

of Mexico was the discovery of a Pseudochama that does not appear

to have been hitherto described. It may be known as :

Pseudochama clarionensis, new species. PI. 4, figs. 1, 2.

Shell sinistral. Upper valve roughly circular, flattened; with

irregular, rugose, spiral wrinkles ; posterior three fourths of the

valve decorated with short, laminated, grooved spines; anterior

margin with several projecting, spatulate folds. Lower valve

rather flat ; attached for the greater part of its area ; unattached

portion with low, rugose cords running in various directions,

and sparsely ornamented with thin, projecting laminae. Ground

color of both valves bright salmon-red, spines and folds usually

white, but some of the latter colored red like the main part of the

shell. Color of interior white, clouded with rose. Each valve

October, 1938] the nautilus 49

with a single serrated tooth which fits into a pit in the opposite

valve. The tooth in the lower valve is the largest and most deeply

serrated. Inner margin of both valves crenated all around except

in hinge region. Greatest diameter of type, 23 millimeters.

Type: No. 1058, paratype No. 1058a, Los Angeles Museum;

dredged by G. Willett in 30 fathoms off southwest side of Clarion

Island, Mexico, March 24, 1938. Many additional upper valves

secured, but very few complete specimens, the lower valves being

firmly attached.

This species somewhat resembles P. granti Strong, from Catalina

Island, California, but differs in slightly larger size, much more

brilliant coloration, more rugose upper valve with its submarginal

folded fronds, and much more shallow lower valve.

A specimen of P. granti was dredged in 25 fathoms at the San

Benito Islands, this constituting a southward extension of the

known range of that species.

A NEW TURBONILLA FROM REDONDO BEACH,

CALIFORNIA

BY MACKENZIE GORDON, JR.

During the months of May and June, 1938, I had the pleasure

of doing quite a bit of dredging off Redondo Beach, California,

with Mr. John Q. Burch of that town, and his son, Tom Burch.

We concentrated on a gravel bed a few acres in extent about a

mile off shore and succeeded in sorting through about a ton of

material. As seems inevitable when a locality is carefully worked,

a new species of Turbonilla turned up for which I submit the fol-

lowing description :

Turbonilla (Pyrgiscus) burchi, new species. PL 4, figs. 3-5.

Shell large, broadly-conic, flesh-colored with a wide brown band

which extends from one- fourth the distance from the suture to the

periphery, to one-fourth the distance from the periphery to the

columella. Early nuclear whorls broken away; remaining half-

turn smooth, slightly oblique, and slightly immersed in the first

post-nuclear whorl. Post-nuclear whorls rounded, slightly ap-

pressed at the summit, marked on the early whorls by rather

strong, almost vertical, rounded, axial ribs, which become slightly

50 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (2)

retractive on the last three whorls. Of these, there are 14 on the

third, 16 on the fourth to sixth, 17 on the seventh, 18 on the

eighth, 20 on the ninth, 22 on the tenth, and 28 on the last whorl.

The spiral sculpture consists of heavily incised lirae or elongated

pits and finely incised lines. There are five rows of the elongated

pits : the first, second, and fourth of equal strength, and the third

and fifth slightly stronger. The first of these marks the posterior

boundary of the brown color band, the second is just anterior to it,

the fifth is almost at the periphery, the fourth is the same distance

posterior to it as the first to the second, and the third is half way

between the second and fourth. The flesh-colored area in front of

the suture is marked by five finely incised lines of equal strength

and equidistant except for the third and fourth which are set

slightly farther apart. There are two finely incised lines between

the first and second rows of spiral pits, two between the second and

third, three between the third and fourth, and none between the

fourth and fifth. The spiral sculpture does not cross the summits

of the axial ribs though several of the rows of spiral pits encroach

well upon the slopes. The periphery is well-rounded and marked

by a smooth area as wide as that separating the fourth and fifth

rows of spiral pits. A few of the axial ribs cross the periphery

but these evanesce quickly. The base is well-rounded and marked

by eighteen fairly strong, subequal, spiral grooves which are

unequally spaced. Aperture moderately large, rhomboidal; pos-

terior angle acute ; outer lip thin, showing the sculpture within ;

columella moderately thin, oblique, revolute, but almost straight ;

parietal wall covered by a thin callus. The type possesses eleven

whorls and measures : height, 10.4 ; greatest diameter, 2.9 mm.

Holotype: No. 1057 Los Angeles Museum coll., dredged at 25

fathoms in gravel, one mile west of the pier at Redondo Beach,

California, by M. Gordon and J. Q. Burch in June, 1938. Two

paratypes, one Cat. No. 1746 in the California Academy of

Sciences Paleo. Type Coll., and the other Cat. No. 1626 in the

author's collection, were collected with the type.

A study of the paratypes shows that the finely incised spiral

lines do not constitute a constant character, the specimen in the

author's collection possessing twelve of these in the flesh-colored

zone anterior to the first row of spiral pits. The rows of spiral

pits, however, are always five in number though varying in

strength from the type, and are especially apparent on the earlier

post-nuclear whorls.

This species is evidently most closely related to Turbonilla

THE NAUTILUS: 52 (2)

PLATE 4

1, Pseudoohama clarionensis Willett, side view of type and paratype; 2,

upper side of type, all x 2.

3, Turbonilla (Pyrgiscus) burchi Gordon, last four whorls xo; 4, the shell

3 ; •""), antepenult whorl x 12.

October, 1938] the nautilus 51

(Pyrgiscus) dora Bartsch but differs from that species in being

banded, in having stronger and less numerous axial ribs on all the

whorls, less appressment at the suture, a different pattern of spiral

sculpture, and not as many spiral grooves on the base.

The species is named for Mr. John Q. Burch, of Redondo Beach,

California.

A CRUDE NUMERICAL EXPRESSION FOR THE

BRILLIANCE OF GASTROPOD SHELLS

BY E. A. ANDEEWS

Johns Hopkins University

In Jamaica, B. W. I., the shells of Neritina virginea differ

greatly in color, in pattern and in intensity of light reflected from

their surfaces, not only in any one locality but in populations

living in various fresh, brackish and salt waters. Thus in the

Great Salt Pond, Ft. Clarence, very light shells were found by

Metcalf in 1891, in water of density 1.0380, while in 1910 shells

collected there were quite light, in water of density 1.0258-60-75

and decidedly darker in water of density 1.0174, in part of the

same pond.

To express the intensity of reflected light thus found correlated

with density, some numerical expression was sought for the terms

"light" and "dark." In 1931 Professor A. H. Pfund had the

kindness to supply this need by measuring for me the light re-

flected from one hundred shells from each of the above three

densities as compared with the light from magnesium oxide, and he

found that the darker shells from density 1.0174 reflected but 9

per cent while those from density 1.0258-60-75 reflected 18 per

cent, and those from density 1.0380 reflected 37 per cent.

By 1936 some thirty-three collections of these shells from sixteen

localities had been made, and the differences in brilliance noted.

To express these differences numerically it was suggested by Pro-

fessor Pfund that individual shells be compared with magnesium

oxide by means of a photometer. I am indebted to Dr. L. B.

Shettles for setting up the photometer that he had been using.

To make use of individual shells to represent a community it

was necessary to select a proper one from the very diverse indi-

viduals of any locality.

52

THE NAUTILUS

[Vol. 52 (2)

While Metcalf had pointed out that the endless individual diver-

sities might be grouped arbitrarily into classes that graded into

one another, we found that one such grouping seemed of more

value, as in any large collection from either salt or fresh water

there are shells that fall into the five groups indicated in the dia-

gram. In this diagram we represent the surface of the shell as

unrolled and projected so that the base of the triangle is the

mature part of the shell and the apex the very young shell still

without the color and pattern that it later assumes and, generally,

holds constant through its life.

In group I we place shells that are melanic, either pure black

or with small scattered light spots on dark background. In II

shells that are albinic with pale ground and very little pattern.

In III shells that exhibit at least one equatorial band of light, free

from pattern, or rarely an obscure band of red, or sometimes

banded arrangement of small spots. In IV are the common shells

that are blotched with very diverse patterns of angular areas of

dark on light ground. In V, minute spots or dots represent the

light areas outlined by the angular pattern of IV.

Census of populations showed that in saline waters shells in

group IV were much more numerous than in the other groups,

while in fresh waters shells in group V are the most numerous.

For example in the above intermediate locality in which one

hundred shells gave reflected light 18 per cent of that from the

October, 1938] the nautilus 53

oxide, the entire population of 28212 shells fell into the above

groups as follows : in I 5%, in II 4%, in III 19%, in IV 63% and

in V 8%.

The light coming from these shells is made up of the light

ground, whitish or yellow with occasional red or bluish; of the

pattern that is resolvable into fine meridional lines of dark; and

in addition the high lights made by reflection from the generally

highly polished surface. To give value to these high lights the

shells were put below the focus of the microscope and thus a

blurred composite light compared with the light from the movable

bulb of the photometer.

We found that in the above collection of 28212, shells of I gave

6-12%, of II 20-40%, of III 16-40%, of IV 20-40%, of V 20-

33%. On the other hand the large, dark shells in the cascades

of the Great River compared with the oxide showed: in I 4%, in

II 20%, in III 20%, in IV 13%, and in V 20%.

In the thirty-three collections from sixteen localities the light

reflected by an average shell of group IV or of V was taken to

represent the entire community, though obviously there were many

shells that were darker and many lighter, but they were minorities.

The selected representatives from salt environments gave values

of 19^8 per cent and those from fresh waters 12—22 per cent.

Thus, as emphasized by Metcalf, Neritina virginea in Jamaica

shows marked correlation between salinity and brilliance of shell.

It is also very conspicuous that saline forms are small as com-

pared with fresh. However, salinity is not the only factor in

which fresh and salt environments differ. Doubtless the food

available may differ and, though unfortunately not measured, the

light that falls upon the snails seems to differ since the small bril-

liant shells are found in clear sea water that is not shaded and

seldom turbid and at depths of but a few inches, or less, that the

sunlight penetrates with heat, light and short rays ; while the larger

darker fresh water forms live deeper, were often shaded, and in

water frequently turbid, and thus they are exposed less to all the

rays of the sunlight.

It may be that toward the solution of the problem of the effects

of environment upon these snails some attention should be given to

the amount and character of the light that falls upon them during

54 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (2)

most of their life, as this may well be significantly correlated with

the brilliance of the shell itself. Unfortunately the light received

and that reflected have not been measured in light units, but the

present method of comparing the brilliance with a standard may

have some reconnaissance value.

It can be applied to other gastropods. Thus at Sandy Bay

Nerita tristis gave values of 21% which compares with the average

of Neritina virginea there of 28%, and these two crawling together

have some resemblances in patterns that may lead to mistaking one

for the other.

A NEW SPECIES OF STENOTREMA FROM EAST

TENNESSEE

BY ALLAN F. AECHER

Stenotrema waldense, new species. Text figure 1.

Description. — Shell small, imperforate, rather solid, subglobose,

dull. Color varying from very light chestnut-brown on body-

whorl to dull ivory on earlier whorls. Cuticle horny brown.

Peristome and parietal lamella very pale ivory. "Whorls 5, rather

gently increasing, moderately convex, nuclear whorl somewhat

convex. Suture gently impressed. Body whorl slightly bulging

behind peristome, and having a faintly angular periphery. Base

of body-whorl rather convex. Aperture narrow and transverse.

Outer peristome flaring outwards, rather narrow, becoming in-

Fig. l.

creasingly narrow where it joins the body wall. Basal peristome

rather narrow. Anal sinus gently rounded. Subanal denticle

weakly angular. Interdenticular sinus quite broadly curved and

having a flat surface. Outer and basal denticle on either side of

the notch undifferentiated from inner rim of peristome. Notch

v-shaped, very reduced and narrow. Parietal lamella simple, very

gently arched and not prominent ; proportionately short, its distal

end not descending deeply into the aperture in the vicinity of the

October, 1938] the nautilus 55

interdenticular notch. Parietal callus rather narrow, curving

upwards where it meets termination of outer peristome. Eroded

nuclear whorl showing faint traces of axial striation. Succeeding

whorls possessing fine axial riblets, a little irregularly spaced and

occasionally interrupted. Beginning at about the fourth whorl

and continuing to the edge of the peristome the surface is covered

with fine, rather closely crowded spiral lines. Height 6 mm.,

greater diameter 8 mm., lesser diameter 7.8 mm.

Holotype.—A. N. S. P. No. 168938, from Doaks Creek, Campbell

County, Tennessee. Paratypes in the collection of the Museum of

Zoology, Ann Arbor, Michigan. A. R. Calm collector, 1937.

Remarks. — The specimens collected are all dead adults, and it

would be desirable to obtain live material in order to get a better

idea of the color of the shell and other useful data. This species

is evidently distinct from any other Stenotrema. It is quite prob-

able that its nearest relative is Stenotrema edvardi (Bland) ; its

sculpture indicates that live specimens would probably have thorn-

like cuticular hairs similar to those of edvardsi. It differs from

the latter in the following ways.

S. waldense S. edvardsi

1. Parietal lamella proportion- 1. Parietal lamella proportion-

ately short, its distal end ately long, deeply descend-

not deeply descending into ing into the aperture.

the aperture.

2. Peristome rounded and 2. Peristome strongly angular,

blunt

3. Shell subglobose. 3. Shell lenticular.

The whorls are also more rapidly increasing than in edvardsi.

Stenotrema waldense may be distinguished at once from S. hir-

sutum by the fact that the distal end of the parietal lamella does

not descend deeply into the aperture as in the case of the latter.

In this respect it also differs from S. stenotrema, and also by the

narrow basal peristome. S. waldense can, moreover, be distin-

guished from S. altispira by possessing a fine, narrow notch,

a shallow basal peristome and a convex base, while in the latter

the notch is wide and gaping, the basal peristome is broad, and the

base of the shell is quite flattened.

This snail is named for the Walden's Ridge area in which it

occurs.

lUJ LIBRARY

56 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (2)

A COLLECTION OF FRESHWATER SHELLS FROM

KAMCHATKA

BY W. J. EYERDAM

The Kamchatka peninsula which is surrounded by the sea on

three sides and bordered on the north by a vast treeless tundra,

might be regarded from a biological standpoint as an island. One

would expect its flora and fauna to represent a great array of

endemic species, but such is not the case. The flora, which is far

from original, consists largely of circumpolar and subalpine

plants. The fauna is meager in species and consists mostly of

forms having a wide range in the circumboreal regions. Local

races are not sharply defined and represent a more recent devel-

opment in evolution.

The general impression that one receives upon a study of the

flora is one of violent volcanic catastrophes on a grand scale and

of great ice masses that have displaced and pauperized the vegeta-

tion of pre-Quaternary period. After the glacial times Kam-

chatka was restocked by Arctic biological forms. Through glacial

and volcanic destruction very few refugia or glacial islands have

persisted down to the present, so there are not many relict biotic

species to be found in the peninsula. The Winters are long and

cold and the Summers are short and hot. Deep snow persists

right down to the sea until May. Sometimes drifts of snow cover

certain valleys until July, and often there are violent eruptions

in this land of over 100 volcanoes, that destroy all the vegetation

within the area of hundreds of square kilometers.

As a result of unfavorable conditions one cannot expect to find

an abundance of molluscan species. The total known land snail

fauna is about fifteen species.

In the Summer of 1925 while engaged on a salmon fishing excur-

sion to the mouth of the Kamchatka river for a Seattle mild cure

concern, I had occasion to go ashore from the schooner Apollo

and collect shells and plants during spare time. Again in 1928

while engaged in collecting plants for the well known Swedish

botanist, Dr. Eric Hulten, I collected freshwater shells in the

region around Avatcha bay in South Kamchatka. The only large

river in this region is the Avatcha river and no shells could be

October, 1938] the nautilus 57

found in the stream bed itself. Ponds with growing vegetation,

as elsewhere, favor the growth of molluscs which were taken in

such places.

Most of the following freshwater shells that I collected were

kindly classified by Dr. C. Goodrich after the death of Dr. Bryant

Walker to whom I had submitted them in 1931. The identifica-

tions are based mostly on Westerlund's descriptions and I believe

by comparison of species in the Walker collection. There are

three species in the lot that were not reported previously from

Kamchatka.

1. Pisidium dilatatum Westerlund, 1928. Savoika in a pond.

July, 1925. Not common.

2. Pisidium sibiricum Clessin. In mud amongst stones and

pebbles of a swiftly running brook which freezes solid in winter.

Gulf of Kronotski about 20 miles south of the mouth of Kamchatka

river. Not common.

3. Anodonta beringiana Midd. One specimen in August, 1925,

in a flood plain pond near the mouth of Kamchatka river.

4. Margaritana margaritifera L. In 1925 in the Kamchatka

river. One valve.

5. Lymnaea pervia Mts. August, 1928. Not common. Dark

green horn color. In ponds along Avatcha river on Callitriche

verna L., Potamogeton filiformis-pers Laest. Potamogeton grami-

neus L. and Sparganium hyperboreum. In a tundra pond on Mt.

Polovinaja near Savoika in July, 1928. Light horn color. On

Potamogeton graminicus and Sparganium hyperboreum. In a

small lake at Petropavlovsk on stones and on Ruppia spiralis L. in

July, 1928. At Port Arthur, Manchuria, October 28, 1928, in a

rice irrigation ditch. Abundant. These are larger than the

Kamchatka form.

6. *Lymnaea atrata Westerlund. August, 1928. Abundant

around the Nulichevo hot springs. This species is said to be com-

mon in most of the larger hot springs of Kamchatka but does not

seem to occur elsewhere. The flora of these hot springs is quite

unique and many of the plant species are found only in such places

in Kamchatka.

* New to Kamchatka.

58 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (2)

7. Lymnaea ovata (Draparnaud) Westerlund. July, 1925.

Ustj Kamtchatsk in a flood plain.

8. Lymnaea aberrans Westerlund. August, 1928. Malka hot

springs in 30 degrees Cent.

9. Lymnaea palustris Muller var. terebra Westerlund. July,

1925. Ustj Kamtchatsk in a flood pond.

10. Lymnaea stagnalis sorensis Dybowski. July, 1925. Ustj

Kamtchatsk in a flood pond.

11. Valvata sibirica Middendorff. This species is reported by

Rosen from Kamchatka and its range is from northern Sweden to

N. E. Siberia. In 1932 I found it in lakes on the islands Unimak,

Unalaska, and Atka in the Aleutians. I did not find it in Kam-

chatka.

12. Planorbis (Gyraulus) exilis Westerlund. September 1,

1928. In a mountain tundra pond on Mt. Polovinaja on Potamo-

geton and Sparganium.

13. *Planorbis contortus L. July, 1928. Two specimens in a

flood pond at Ustj Kamtchatsk. Not typical. Determined by

Vanatta.

14. *Planorbis exilis Westerlund. In flood plain ponds at

Petropavlovsk, July, 1928. Savoika on Avatcha river, July 20,

1928, and at Harbin, Manchuria, October 12, 1928.

15. Bithynia robusta minor von Moellendorff. In a flood pond

of the Sungari river near Harbin, Manchuria, October 12, 1928.

The Kamchatka river which is nearly as large as the Columbia,

harbors practically all the fluviatile molluscs of Kamchatka, and

the same species are to be found in most of the great river systems

of Siberia and northern Russia. Little seems to be known about

the shells of thermal springs and their distribution except that

most of them are species of Lymnaea. Perhaps they have been

distributed in the larval stage by the agency of water birds.

In 1908-1909 an adjunct of the great Riabusinski biological

expedition to Kamchatka, Baron von Rosen published a report on

the land and freshwater shells that were collected in that region.

The paper is printed in Russian and lists 14 terrestrial and 31

freshwater species. The title is "Mollusques terrestres et d'eaux

douces, recueillis au Kamtschatka par l'expedition de Mr. Th.

* New to Kamchatka.

October, 1938] the nautilus 59

Riabusinsky en 1908-1909" Annuaire du Musee Zoologique de

l'Acad. des Sciences de L' U. S. S. R. 1926. pp. 262-274, by

0. V. Rosen.

As this paper is apparently quite unknown and almost inac-

cessible in America, I include the following species that are in this

report but are species that I did not find.

Nearly all of these forms were collected in the Kamchatka river.

Unfortunately I had only about one hour of collecting in that

stream in 1925.

The following list of shells are in Rosen's report but are not in

the collection of Eyerdam. They are :

Gulnaria auricularia lanuginosa Dybowski.

" ovata var. patula Westerlund.

" kamtschatica Midd.

peregra Drap. var. middendorffi Dybowski.

" " " pseudo-elongata Dybowski.

Lymnaea palustris Miiller var. fusca Pfeiffer.

Fossaria truncatula sibirica Westerlund.

Physa hypnorum L.

Planorbis borealis Loven.

" var. dershavini Rosen.

" moellendorfi Dybowski.

" Jcamtschaticus Westerlund.

Bithynia leachi Schp. var. inflata Hans. * This Bithynia may

be the same form as I found in October, 1928 at Harbin, Man-

churia, which Goodrich classified as B. robusta minor Moellendorff.

Valvata stelleri Dybowski.

Sphaerium asiaticum Mts.

" nitidum Clessin.

Calycidina lacustris Miiller.

Pisidium amnicum Miiller.

" nordenskioldi (Clessin) Westerlund.

Margaritana middendorffi Rosen.

These shells are in the collection of the museum of the Academy

of Sciences in Leningrad, and the others are in the collection of

Eyerdam.

60 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (2)

VALVATA PISCINALIS (MULLER) IN THE

GREAT LAKES

BY JOHN OUGHTON

(Continued from page 327)

Summary of the Known Range in the Great Lakes. — The above

statement shows that V. piscinalis is well established and wide-

spread in Lake Ontario, where it is known to occur from Belleville

on the east to Port Dalhousie on the west. It seems likely that

further search on the southern shore will establish a greater range

there than the two records would suggest.

The single shell reported by Mr. Blakeslee (in letter) from Lake

Erie (a well collected region) may be the vanguard of the invasion

of the species into that lake. Such encroachment would likely

take place via the Welland Canal, since V. piscinalis is common

at the Lake Ontario end of this ship channel.

Habitat and Abundance. — In the Great Lakes, V. piscinalis

apparently thrives in protected sites, as it does in its European

haunts. Thus in the vicinity of Toronto it is most abundant by

far in the well-protected lee of the breakwater at Sunnyside Beach,

while it is only moderately abundant at Toronto Island in Toronto

Bay, where there is a mile exposure of open water, and it is uncom-

mon on the lake side of Toronto Island (only 2 shells were found

in a 100-yard strip of beach examined), which was exposed to the

open lake. Any discussion of abundance in a given area must

therefore take into consideration the types of habitats available.

In order to obtain a precise estimate of the population of the

present species, extensive sampling and dredging of the animals

in life would have to be carried out. Lacking this information,

the writer offers two rough standards of comparison, based on the

numbers of dead shells found on the beaches at Toronto.

1. Number per unit time of collecting. Location, Lake Ontario,

near mouth of Humber River (Sunnyside Beach) behind

breakwater, (a) Fall, 1913. Justice F. R. Latchford in-

formed the writer that he obtained about 15 to 20 shells in

about one-half hour, (b) On a site of moderate density

of drift shells, the writer collected 128 shells in 15 minutes,

Dec, 1937.

October, 1938] the nautilus 61

2. Random collecting, i.e., number per unit area of beach. Four

samples were obtained by scooping up all the shells within

marked-off areas : Lake Ontario, (a) Toronto Island,

Toronto Bay, May 22, 1937.

Sample A Sample B

Total number of shells col-

lected 35 142

Total number of species col-

lected 10 14

V. piscinalis 23% 18%

Bulimus tentaculatus 37% 42%

Amnicola spp 6% 14%

Gyraulus parvus 11% 4%

Physa spp 9% 5%

Other aquatics 14% 17%

(b) Sunnyside beach, behind the breakwater (May 21,

1937 and Dec. 19, 1937).

Sample A Sample B

Total number of shells col-

lected 153 1482

Total number of species col-

lected 11 33

V. piscinalis 20% 34%

Gyraulus parvus 68% 46%

Physa spp 3% 7%

Sphaeriidae spp 1% 3%

Other aquatics 8% 10%

Details of Its Introduction. — There is no precise information at

hand concerning the date, locality, means or source of introduc-

tion. V. piscinalis probably first colonized the western part of

Lake Ontario, since in this area it seems to be most abundant now

(e.g., two suitably protected sites were examined in eastern Lake

Ontario in 1936, and the species was uncommon or absent). The

date of introduction was probably not much prior to 1898, as there

is no mention of it in earlier lists, viz., A. W. Hanham, "List of

the land and freshwater shells of the Hamilton district . . . ,"

Journ. & Proc. Ham. Assoc, pp. 111-120, 1890, and H. A. Nichol-

son, "Contrib. to a Fauna Canadensis ..." Can. Journ. n.s., 3:

490-506, 1872. In fact, Nicholson collected in the shallows of the

bay at Toronto Island, where it is now common.

62 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (2)

Variation. The sixteen hundred shells of V. piscinalis from

Lake Ontario contained in the collections of the Royal Ontario

Museum of Zoology belong in the writer's opinion to the typical

form of V. piscinalis, although series of the European varieties are

lacking for comparison. Thirty-five of the largest specimens in

this collection were selected and measured, with the following

results : Number of whorls, average 3f , extremes 3^ and 4j ; length,

average 5.0 mm., extremes 4.0 and 6.1 ; breadth, average 5.2 mm.,

extremes 4.5 and 6.0. In most instances the breadth is equal to,

or greater than, the length. These figures differ slightly from

those given by Ellis in "British Snails" 1926, p. 87 : 5 or 6 whorls,

breadth 5 to 7 mm., height slightly more. The variation in the

Lake Ontario shells is noticeable but small with respect to the eleva-

tion of the spire, size of umbilicus and the sculpture (malleation).

Mr. F. C. Baker noted (in letter) that there was considerable

variation in his lot of shells.

Summary

1. Valvata piscinalis (Miiller), which was first reported from

Lake Ontario in 1898, now has a wide range in that lake, and may

be spreading into Lake Erie.

2. Judging by the number of dead shells washed up, this species

at Toronto has greatly prospered during the last twenty-four

years, so that now it comprises about one-quarter of the total

molluscan population of protected parts of Lake Ontario at this

city.

3. The details of its introduction are unknown.

4. Only the typical form of V. piscinalis has been found.

THURAL DALE FOSTER

(September 27, 1897— June 6, 1936)

Thural Dale Foster entered the University of Illinois as a

graduate student in the summer of 1929. He had taught for five

years in the high schools of Lamoille, Cambridge, and Geneseo,

Illinois, after receiving the Bachelor's degree from Shurtleff Col-

lege in 1924. In September, 1929, he became a graduate assistant

in zoology in the University of Illinois, a position which he held

until his death on June 6, 1936, except for one year when an at-

October, 1938] the nautilus 63

tack of Hodgkin's disease, which ultimately caused his death,

forced him to interrupt his studies. He was granted a Master's

degree by the University in June, 1931, and the Ph.D. degree was

conferred on him posthumously on June 8, 1936.

He early became interested in Mollusca and completed a num-

ber of life history and biological studies which gave evidence of

his promise as a research worker. He spent the summers of 1931

and 1932 as Assistant Field Zoologist in the Illinois State Natural

History Survey, working under the direction of Frank C. Baker

on a survey of the land mollusks of Illinois.

His courage and intense interest in research are reflected in the

spirit with which he continued his work after being stricken with

an incurable affliction. He is survived by his wife, Frances Claytor

Foster.

A list of his published papers is appended.

Foster, T. Dale, 1931

Observations on the life history of a fingernail shell of the

genus Sphaerium. (Abstract). Trans. III. St. Acad, of

Sci., 24(2) : 165-166.

-, 1932

Observations on the life history of a fingernail shell of the

genus Sphaerium. Jour. Morph., 53(3) : 473-497.

-, 1933

Shell injuries of land mollusks. Trans. III. St. Acad, of

Sci., 26(2) : 131.

Foster, T. Dale, and William C. Van Deventer, 1933

A comparative study of river, pool and pond communities,

with special reference to the Sphaeriids. (Abstract).

Trans. III. St. Acad, of Sci., 26(2) : 132.

Foster, T. Dale, 1936

Biology of a land snail, Polygyra thyroides (Say) . Printed

abstract of Ph.D. thesis. 13 pages.

, 1936

Size of shell in land snails of the genus Polygyra with

particular reference to major and minor varieties. Amer.

Mid. Nat., 17 (6): 978-982.

1937

Productivity of a land snail, Polygyra thyroides (Say).

Ecol, 18(4) : 545-546.

Van Cleave, H. J., and T. Dale Foster, 1937

The seasonal life history of a land snail, Polygyra thyroidus

(Say). The Nautilus, 51(2) : 50-54.

H. J. Van Cleave,

University of Illinois.

64 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (2)

DOCTOR FRED BAKER

The death of Dr. Fred Baker on May 16th, 1938, marked the

end of an era. A pupil of Dr. Wesley Newcomb and the intimate

friend and associate of the veteran collector Henry Hemphill, he

was one of the last survivors of the pioneer period of West Coast

malacology.

Dr. Baker was born in Norwalk, Ohio, on January 29th, 1854.

In 1870 he matriculated at Cornell University in Civil Engineer-

ing; but his interest in natural science was such that he soon

changed to a pre-medical course designed also to train naturalists.

While yet at Cornell he had six months in Europe with Albert

N. Prentiss, professor of botany, with studies in Kew Gardens.

His first formal work was done under professor Charles Fred

Hartt, in Spirifers, and was the link which caused Dr. Hartt to

place him in the way of a trip to Mexico and Central America

with the eminent Russian meteorologist, Dr. Woiekoff. The stay

here was extended to four years, during which he tried several

ventures, among them building roads for the Guatemaltec govern-

ment with crews of full blooded Indians. Here he acquired a

speaking knowledge of Spanish and an interest in anthropology,

and on returning to Cornell submitted as his graduation thesis

in 1878 a dissertation on the origin of the Indians of Oaxaca and

Chiapas.

In 1880 he graduated in medicine at the University of Michigan,

and a year later married Miss Charlotte LeBreton Johnson, herself

also an M.D. of Michigan who had been assistant to the surgeon at

the Women's Prison at Framingham, Massachusetts. After some

brief practice in Ohio and New Mexico they settled in San Diego,

California, where Dr. Charlotte Baker officiated in over one thou-

sand maternity cases without the loss of a mother.

In those days the population of San Diego was around 2,000,

and every resident was acquainted with every other one. The

Bakers were known to the community as Dr. Fred and Dr. Char-

lotte. In later years when the frontier town had developed into

a modern metropolis with upwards of a quarter million popula-

tion, and Dr. Charlotte had served as president of the County

Medical Society, the Y. W. C. A., the Women's Civic Center, and

DR. FEED BAKEE

October, 1938] the nautilus 65

the Civil Service Commission, and Dr. Fred as president of the

City Council, the Board of Education, the San Diego Biological

Association (which later became the Scripps Institution of Ocean-

ography), the San Diego Society of Natural History, the County

Medical Society, and had held positions in the San Diego Zoolog-

ical Society, the Board of Directors of the State Normal School,

the Library Board, and both State Medical Societies, they were

still known as Dr. Fred and Dr. Charlotte.

In 1911 Dr. Fred was appointed surgeon and malacologist of the

Stanford expedition to Brazil, at the close of which he extended

his journey to the junction of the Madeira and Mamore rivers,

1,000 miles up the Amazon. This afforded him the opportunity

to collect many kinds of land and freshwater shells from a hitherto

unknown part of America, and to make important observations

on the ecology of other forms of life. His paper on "Land and

Fresh Water Mollusks of the Stanford Expedition to Brazil" was

published by the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.

A report on the marine shells, on which he was working with J. R.

LeB. Tomlin, of the British Museum, was incomplete at the time

of his death.

In 1914 he collected extensively in the orient for the National

Museum, the Academy of Natural Sciences, and the California

Academy of Science, and in 1921 the last named institution sent

him to the Gulf of California.

The foundation of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography was

very largely the result of Dr. Fred's untiring energy, and he was

also among the founders of the San Diego Zoological Society,

which now maintains the second largest zoo in the country. It is

believed that at one time his collection of shells was the largest

privately owned collection in the country. In accordance with his

wishes it has been given to the San Diego Natural History Society,

which institution stands in the way to become the malacological

center of the west coast, having already acquired the Orcutt and

the Lowe collections. The late Mr. F. W. Kelsey, of San Diego,

had collaborated with Dr. Fred in establishing the Baker-Kelsey

collection of Pacific Coast mollusca, now at the Scripps Institution

at La Jolla, of which Dr. Fred was honorary curator at the time

of his death. He was also a life member of the California Acad-

66 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (2)

emy of Science and of the Pacific Geographic Society, and be-

longed to the San Diego Historical Society and the San Diego

Museum Association.

Dr. Fred's first contribution to the Nautilus was in 1902, an

article on a collection at San Martin in Lower California, where

he and his family took a summer cruise and holiday. Since then

he has contributed several times, and beginning in 1926 was called

to the pleasant task of abstracting each number for Biological

Abstracts. He was particularly proud that he did not miss a

number, even during a period of near blindness prior to a suc-

cessful operation for cataract.

It has been said that Dr. Fred was a pioneer. This is true, but

it is not as a pioneer that he will be remembered. Most of those

who knew him in the pioneer days were gathered to their reward

long before him. Rather will he be remembered by a younger

generation, who had the privilege of knowing him in his den, of

borrowing his books and consulting his monumental card catalog,

whom he inspired with his infectious enthusiasm, and who profited

by his generosity with his duplicates. Those fortunate ones will

remember him with real affection.

Dr. Fred and Dr. Charlotte died within a few months of each

other. They are survived by a daughter, Miss Mollie C. Baker,

dean of women at Fresno State College, a son, Captain Robert H.

Baker, of Point Loma, and a grandson, Kenneth Baker, who have

assisted in the preparation of this notice.

Joshua L. Baily, Jr.

THE EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE

AMERICAN MALACOLOGICAL UNION

Havana, Cuba, August 1 to 6, 1938

BY IMOGENE C. EOBEKTSON

Forever memorable in the annals of the American Malacological

Union will be its Eighth Annual Meeting, which was held in

Havana, Cuba, during the first week of August, 1938. On this

occasion the Cuban Government and Dr. Carlos de la Torre, Cuba's

most beloved scientist, were hosts in all that the word implies.

October, 1938] the nautilus 67

Arrangements had been made for members to register with Mrs.

Wallace B. Kirke at the Old Island Trading Post in Key West,

Florida, on July 31 ; thus all were in readiness early on Monday,

August 1, to board the Cuban Cruiser "Cuba" which had been

sent by Colonel Gonzalez, Chief of the Cuban Navy, for the trip

to Havana. Commander Casanova and Rodriguez Alonzo were

in command of the "Cuba" and officers and crew were tireless

in their ministrations to the comfort of their guests.

Dr. Abelardo Moreno, Ernesto Freyre and Carlos Alzuzaray,

representing Dr. de la Torre, and Rafael Miguel Zayas, for the

Secretary of Education, constituted the welcoming committee as

members boarded the boat, making them feel at home from the

first moment.

Dr. de la Torre, President of the Union, greeted the fifty-seven

visitors as they disembarked on arriving in Havana, where they

were driven at once to the convention headquarters in the Royal

Palm Hotel. A meeting of the Executive Council of the Union

was held later in the evening when the program was arranged and

reports of the Check-list Committee and the Committee on Nomen-

clature were read.

Regular sessions were opened on Tuesday morning in the Acad-

emy of Sciences of the University of Havana, Dr. de la Torre as

host giving an address of welcome which was responded to by Dr.

Paul Bartsch, past President. Knowing Dr. de la Torre inti-

mately from long association in the field and in the laboratory,

none could more feelingly express the gratitude and affection of

every member present as he thanked our host for his unprece-

dented hospitality.

Papers read at this session were as follows : ' ' The Cuban Oper-

culate Land Shells of the Subfamily Chondropominae" by Dr.

Carlos de la Torre and Dr. Paul Bartsch read by Dr. Bartsch;

"The West Indian Operculate Land Shells of the Subfamily

Chondropominae, exclusive of Cuba, ' ' by Dr. Paul Bartsch ; ' ' The

Taxonomic Value of the Radula, ' ' by Dr. Joshua L. Baily, Jr. ;

"The Origin of the Bahama Land and Freshwater Mollusk

Fauna," by William J. Clench; "Classification of the Poly-

gyridae," by Dr. Henry A. Pilsbry.

At the conclusion of the morning program the visitors were

68 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (2)

received by Dr. Fernando Sirgo, Secretary of Education, Dr. de

la Torre presenting the guests. Dr. Bartsch spoke briefly in

appreciation of the honor extended to the Union on this occasion

and paid a tribute to the leaders in science which Cuba has pro-

duced. Dr. Sirgo, expressing the pleasure of the city in extend-

ing a welcome to the Union, wished them a successful continuance

of their work for the glory of science.

The reading of papers was resumed in the afternoon, the first

being on "A Collection of Freshwater Shells from Kamchatka,"

by Walter J. Eyerdam, read by Dr. Bartsch. Mrs. "William P.

Hume gave a short talk on " Shellcraft, " describing what chil-

dren in Charleston, South Carolina, have done with shells, using

their ingenuity to form more or less artistic creations by com-

bining various kinds. Examples of this work were shown at a

later meeting. Two reels of film showing "Some New England

Nudibranchs" photographed by Henry D. Russell were next

shown. Mr. Clench read the explanatory notes which accom-

panied these moving pictures of some of the most colorful and

interesting of mollusks. Another film, "Evolution of the Cuban

Liver Fluke and its Intermediate Hosts" followed, the result of

careful research by Dr. Perez Vigueras and Dr. Abelardo Moreno,

showing the life history of this destructive parasite and the

methods of its dispersion.

Other papers of the afternoon were "William Henry Doherty,

an Almost Forgotten American Conchologist, " by Dr. H. E.

Wheeler, and "Physiology of Reproduction of Ostrea virginica"

by Dr. Paul S. Galtsoff, the latter having an important bearing

on the possibility of introducing a new industry in Cuba, that of

oyster culture.

Papers presented on Wednesday were : ' ' On the Probable Cause

of Certain Variations in the Color of the Shell in the Genus

Liguus" by Dr. Ricardo de la Torre; "The Genus Semicassis in

the West Indies ' ' by Dr. Harald A. Rehder ; ' ' On the Description

of Mollusks ' ' by Dr. Gulielmo Aguayo ; ' ' Why a Cuban Aquarium

Should Excel All Others" by Fred Orsinger; "Malacology versus

Conchology in the Family Amnicolidae ' ' by Dr. Elmer G. Berry ;

"The General Relations between the Naiades of the Cahaba and

Tennessee Drainage" by Dr. Henry van der Schalie, read by Dr.

October, 1938] the nautilus 69

Berry in the absence of the author ; ' ' Structure of the Radula ' '

by Dr. Henry A. Pilsbry; "The Distribution of Land Mollusks

of Alabama from their Probable Center of Origin" by Dr. Allan

F. Archer, read by Dr. Wheeler ; ' ' Anatomic Studies of the Genus

Polymita" by Dr. Abelardo Moreno; "Description of a Mollusk

Trap devised by Frank B. Lyman" by Mrs. M. P. Van Woert.

The paper by Dr. Aguayo concluded with the resolution,

seconded by Dr. Ricardo de la Torre, that no description of a

mollusk will be considered valid without figures as well as

descriptive data and locality.

Mr. Orsinger's arguments for an Aquarium for Cuba were

irrefutable. Every facility has been supplied by nature to make

the maintenance of such an aquarium almost negligible when

compared with the high cost of similar institutions in other

countries.

At the close of the program of papers, officers were elected for

1938-39 as follows: Mr. Maxwell Smith, President; Dr. Horace

B. Baker, Vice-president ; Mr. Norman W. Lermond, Correspond-

ing Secretary; Mrs. Harold R. Robertson, Financial Secretary.

Councillors-at-large : Dr. Henry van der Schalie and Dr. Myra

Keen. Honorary and Past Presidents; Mrs. Ida S. Oldroyd;

Dr. Henry A. Pilsbry ; Dr. Paul Bartsch ; Mr. William J. Clench ;

Mr. Calvin Goodrich; Dr. Joshua L. Baily, Jr.; Dr. Carlos de

la Torre.

To the Checklist Committee were added the names of Henry D.

Russell, Harold Heath and Frank M. McFarland, filling the

vacancies caused by the deaths of Prof. Junius Henderson and

Dr. Fred Baker. Dr. Harald A. Rehder was added to the Com-

mittee on Nomenclature.

Dr. Pilsbry spoke feelingly of the passing of the two honored

and beloved members of the Council, referring to the great work

which both Prof. Henderson and Dr. Baker had done for the cause

of malacology. Dr. Phil Spicer paid tribute to his close friend,

Dr. Fred Baker, of whom Dr. Bartsch also spoke in terms of

affection, asking for a moment of silence in memory of each of

these great men.

The outstanding event of Thursday's program was a visit to

the Instituto Civico Militar at Ceiba del Agua, where orphans of

70 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (2)

laborers and soldiers who have died in the service of Cuba are

trained in physical, educational and manual training pursuits.

Here the visitors were welcomed by Dr. Sosa who explained the

ideals of the institution, after which the buildings were inspected.

These include shops and school rooms of the most modern type,

and the Museo Carlos de la Torre, where were viewed some of the

most beautiful of the Torre collection of Polymitas and Liguus.

A review of the nearly 600 children in physical exercises was a

thrilling sight, especially when it was realized that the school has

been in operation for less than six months. A luncheon in the

spacious and well-appointed dining hall of the Institute concluded

the visit. At the close of the repast Dr. Wheeler gave a few well-

chosen words of appreciation for the splendid work which is being

done here under the inspiration of Colonel Fulgencio Batista,

Chief of the Army, who plans to place a similar institution in

each of the other provinces of the Republic.

The afternoon was devoted to a trip by bus to some of the noted

collecting grounds of Western Cuba. A start was made for

Vinales but because of transportation difficulties it became neces-

sary to terminate the trip at Candelaria. Returning to the hills

near Artemisia many interesting forms peculiar to Cuba were

gathered by the enthusiastic collectors.

On Friday afternoon, members visited the University of Havana

where they were received by the Vice Rector and Acting President,

Dr. R. Mendes Penate. In welcoming them to the University,

Dr. Penate assured his hearers of the great respect and admira-

tion which Cuba feels for the scientists of the United States. A

tour of the buildings followed, not the least interesting to the

group being the room in Museo Poey where Dr. de la Torre carries

on his researches surrounded by his corps of devoted assistants.

A banquet given by the management of the Royal Palm Hotel

concluded the formal entertainment of this never-to-be-forgotten

sojourn in Havana.

A touching mark of affection by our host and retiring President

was the presentation to each visitor of an autographed photograph

of himself. This photograph, so true to life, is beautifully de-

scribed in the following lines written by William P. Hume and

October, 1938] the nautilus 71

dedicated to Dr. de la Torre by Mrs. Hume, who presented them

on this occasion :

Laugh Lines

I love the little laugh lines in your face ;

The tiny twisted etchings near your eyes :

Dear ghosts of all the happy thoughts and smiles

You gave to others with your laughing grace.

I love the way that time has deftly sketched

So many kindly deeds of hand and heart ;

And gently, with a cunning tool has etched

A lovely pattern with a master 's art.

I love the little laugh lines in your face,

The lovely pattern of your hand and heart.

A testimonial of gratitude inscribed with the name of every

guest was then presented to Dr. de la Torre :

"To Don Carlos:

We are grateful to the Sea

For it gave us the Pearl of the Antilles,

We are grateful to Cuba

For its gift of Don Carlos

Whose teachings have made known

The life of land and sea,

But above all

What friendships should be!"

The following Resolutions were passed :

At the conclusion of this Eighth Annual Convention in

Havana, Cuba, the members of the American Malacological

Union wish gratefully to express their appreciation of the

magnificent hospitality which has been extended to them

throughout their stay by the Government and scientific

bodies of Cuba.

Nothing has been left undone which could contribute to

the pleasure and success of this convention, making it notable

in the history of our organization.

Our thanks are especially due to the Honorable Laredo

Bru, President of the Republic; to Colonel Gonzalez, Chief

of the Navy; to Colonel Batista, Chief of the Army; to Dr.

Fernando Sirgo, Secretary of Education; to Dr. R. Mendes

Penate, Vice Rector of the University of Havana; to Com-

mander Casanova and Commander Rodriguez Alonzo, of the

72

THE NAUTILUS

[Vol. 52 (2)

Cruiser Cuba; to Mr. Moran, Manager of the Royal Palm

Hotel ; to the press of Havana ; and last but not least, to our

beloved President, Dr. Carlos de la Torre, and his able aide,

Dr. Abelardo Moreno, who have been tireless in securing the

comfort and happiness of their guests.

May we also venture to express the hope that the governing

authorities of Cuba may realize the value to science and edu-

cation of an Aquarium and Marine Biological Laboratory

which can utilize the unique opportunities available in the

environs of Havana.

Saturday, August 6, saw final farewells to our Cuban hosts and

the return of the delegates to Key West, the same thoughtful

officers and crew in attendance on the ' ' Cuba. ' '

Dr. Abelardo Moreno, Dr. Ricardo de la Torre and Mr. Emerito

Vigil accompanied their guests to Key West, where all dispersed

to return to the far corners of the country from whence they had

gathered for this Eighth Annual Meeting, each carrying back

memories of a stimulating six days and a hospitality unsurpassed.

NOTES AND NEWS

Chief Justice F. R. Latchford, "the grand old man of

Canadian Conchology," died at his home in Toronto, August

thirteenth. A notice of his life and work will follow.

Hydatina physis (L) in Lake Worth, Florida. — Supplement-

ing notes in The Nautilus, Vol. 52, No. 1, we desire to report that

in April, 1938, living specimens were again found. These seemed

to be staying within a small area, not migrating, and were mostly

female and depositing their egg masses in mud and grass-covered

sandy bottom. Early in May some few were taken. Finally in

late May those taken were very close to the deepest parts of South

Lake Worth, indicating that they probably came out of the deep

water in the Spring mating season and returned when the eggs

were deposited. — Frank B. Lyman, Lantana, Fla.

The nautilus

Vol. 52 January, 1939 No. 3

SMALL CASSIDIDAE OF FLORIDA AND THE

WEST INDIES

BY H. A. PILSBRY AND TOM L. McGINTY

Our small and relatively light species of Cassididae, not humped

on the back or with an extended callus over the face, the columellar

lip granulose and standing free, belong to the genus Semicassis.

Dead shells are not uncommon on Florida and Texas beaches, but

living specimens are harder to come by, as they burrow in the sand

with only a small part of the shell exposed. As several names ap-

pear to be in use for our common species, the authors spent some

time in going over the early literature, with the following results.

An astonishing number of names were proposed for these small

Cassis, most during the XVIII century, and by authors such

as Gmelin and Roding, who merely named figures in the still older

iconographies, or by others who had real shells, but depended on

the old works for figures. Tryon in the Manual of Conchology

lumped the Mediterranean, West Indian and West American forms

under Cassis sulcosa Brug., with var. in flat a Shaw and var. ab-

breviata Lam. ; but his synonymy was confused and the references

to figures misleading.

Finally, it has to be admitted that although the great majority

of shells can easily be referred to one or another of the forms

named below, there seem to be also some transitional forms which

refuse to be rigidly classified. Our object here is to point out the

proper names for the several prevalent forms, whatever their

status.

A west Mexican species of this group is Semicassis centi-

quadrata Valenciennes, which was figured by Reeve as a form of

Cassis abbreviata Lam., a very different thing.

(73)

74 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

Semicassis gibba (Gmelin). Plate 5, figs. 1, 2, 3.

Buccinum gibbum Gmelin, 1791, Systeraa Naturae (13), p. 3476.

Cassis sulcosa and Cassis inflata of some authors.

Cassis malum, C. cepa and C. globulus1 Roding, 1798, Mus.

Boltenianum p. 31.

The oval shell with rather acuminate spire is shell pink to

nearly white, with six series of squarish cinnamon spots, those at

suture and extreme base often smaller, irregular or weak. It is

deeply grooved spirally, the moderately convex or sometimes nearly

flat raised cords being very much wider than the grooves, 17 to 19

on the last whorl, the second one from the suture generally nar-

row. The upper four or five cords generally are crossed by nar-

row tubercles, but these may be weak or practically absent. In

large numbers seen from many localities, a few have a varix pre-

ceding that at the lip by about a whorl, more or less.

Large specimens (from Beaufort, N. C, and Lake Worth, Fla.)

run from 75 to 80 mm. long. The common size is 60 to 65 mm.,

small ones down to 35 to 40 mm.

Specimens seen are distributed from Beaufort, N. C, along the

Atlantic and Gulf coasts to Tabasco, Mexico. We have not seen

it from the northern coast of the Gulf in Alabama, Mississippi

and Louisiana, but this may be due to insufficient collections from

those states. A series from St. Thomas is in the Swift collection.

Semicassis gibba abbreviata Lamarck. Plate 5, fig. 4.

Cassis abbreviata Lamarck, 1822, Anim. sans Vert. 7: 224.

This shell is similar to 8. gibba but always small, length about

33 to 44 mm., very solid, nearly white with faint spots or none, with

narrow axial folds crossing the spirals throughout. There is

frequently a strong varix on the front of the last whorl.

A specimen from Varadero Park, on the north coast of Cuba, is

figured. It occurs also on Boynton Beach and probably on the

Keys, Florida. A rather dubious "subspecies," being based on

size and solidity.

i Cassis globulus was based upon Lister's plate 999: 64 (to which we now

restrict it; this is the type figure of B. gibbum Gmel.), and also figures in

Martini which are either small C. gibba or abbreviata, but not sufficiently

characteristic for certain identification.

January, 1939] the nautilus 75

SEMICASSIS GIBBA INFLATA (Shaw).

Buccinum inflatum Shaw, 1811, Naturalists Miscellany, 22, pi.

959. (Figure reversed by engraver.)

Cassis in flat a Shaw, Reeve, Conch. Icon. pi. 9, f. 22c (only).

Cassis tessellata Pfeiffer, 1840, Krit. Register zu Martini u.

Chemnitz's Syst. Konchyl.-Kab. p. viii.

This capacious shell is the largest West Indian Semicassis.

Shaw 's figure said to be natural size, is about 108 mm. long. The

largest we possess is 99 mm. It varies from oval to subglobose, the

diameter from 63 to 77 per cent of the length. The spiral sulcation

is weak on the convexity of the last whorl, but strong above and

below it. There is no trace of a corona of tubercles at the shoulder.

Occasionally there is a varix near the beginning of the last whorl

or on its left side. We have not seen specimens transitional to

gibba.

Specimens are in the collection of the Academy from St.

Thomas, Tortola and Barbados, but none have been seen from

Florida.

Semicassis cicatricosa (Meuschen). PI. 5, fig. 6.

Buccinum cicatricosum Meuschen, 1781, in Zoophylacium

Gronovianum, Tabl. Explic. p. v, pi. 19, f. 1, 2.

Cassis laevigata Menke, 1830, Synopsis Meth. Moll., p. 144,

(Barbados), may well be considered a synonym of 8. cicatricosa

unless the type shows it to differ. Not figured.

Buccinum recurvirostrum Gmelin, 1791, p. 3477, based solely on

Lister, 1016:75, (Barbados), appears to be a synonym of 8.

cicatricosa. Reeve has used the name Cassis recurvirostrum Wood

for an Australian species.

With about the shape of S. gibba, this shell differs by the nearly

smooth surface. There are very weakly raised narrow spirals,

fewer than the spirals of gibba, with wide, flat, "malleate" inter-

vals on the last whorl ; merely engraved lines on the spire.

The figured specimen is one picked up on the beach at George-

town, Grand Cayman Island. Occurs also on Guana Key, Aabaeo

group, Bahamas. We do not know that it has been found in

Florida, but it is to be expected there. The name cicatricosa refers

to the scarlike impressions of the surface.

76 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

Semicassis cicatricosa peristephes, new subspecies. PL 5, fig. 5.

With the general proportions of 8. gibba, this shell has a

shoulder bearing pointed tubercles, of which about 16 can be

counted on the last whorl. It appears also on the back of the

penult whorl. The flat upper face of the later whorls has four

granulous cords. A short distance below the shoulder the glossy

surface shows extremely weak hardly raised spirals equal to their

shallow intervals, or near the base about four spiral grooves sepa-

rated by flat intervals. There is also some irregular axial wrink-

ling or folding of the surface over the middle and anterior parts.

The coloration resembles that of 8. cicatricosa : on a pale cinnamon-

pink group there are irregular large and small cinnamon (darker

or lighter) spots below the suture, some small spots along the

shoulder, and three spiral series of small squarish or sometimes

twinned spots on the middle and forward. There are also the

usual dark spots behind the recurved lip weakly continued on the

outer callus. Aperture about as in 8. gibba; 20 ridges within the

outer lip.

Length 44.6 mm., diam. 31 mm. Lake Worth, Florida. Type.

Length 38 mm., diam. 26 mm. Varadero Park, Cuba.

Length 36 mm., diam. 25 mm. St. Kitts, B. W. I.

Sand bar of Peanut Island, northern inlet of Lake Worth, to-

gether with 8. gibba. Type 173344 ANSP., collected by Thomas

L. McGinty.

It is a beautiful shell, rare in Lake Worth, and apparently found

throughout the West Indies. It occurs on Guana Key, Abaco

group. In a series from St. Thomas there is one shell transitional

to 8. cicatricosa. (Peristephes, crowned.)

There remain a number of ancient names for forms of the S.

gibba group, based upon figures in Lister, Knorr, Chemnitz and

others, which have been variously identified by different authors.

No general agreement on these is to be expected, as one guess at

such enigmatic figures is about as good as another. The names had

better be dropped.

Buccinum granulatum Born, 1780, Test. Mus. Caes. Vindob. p.

248, was not figured, but in the synonymy Born cites the figure of

an Amboina shell in Rumphius, and two quite different figures in

Chemnitz2 perhaps representing a West Indian shell. Bora's

description reminds one of 8. inflata Shaw, as he says it is trans-

versely obsoletely sulcate ; but it seems impossible to tell just what

2 Kiister referred Chemnitz 's figures to Cassis inflata Shaw.

January, 1939] the nautilus 77

he described unless his type can be found in Vienna. He gave

the localities Mediterranean Sea and Amboina.

Buccinum bilineatum Gmelin, 1791, was based upon an un-

realized figure in Lister, which has some resemblance to our

peristephes, but it is not possible to tell whether the markings at

shoulder are knobs or color spots, the bilineate pattern is unlike

any peristephes seen, and spiral sulcation is represented as distinct

throughout. It does not seem sufficiently definite for consid-

eration.

Buccinum trifasciatum Gmelin, 1791, refers to a rough, fore-

shortened engraving of some form of the 8. gibba group. It had

better be given up as inadequately defined.

Buccinum undulatum Gmelin, 1791, rests upon Lister's

996 : 61, labeled Barbados. It is a large form which can hardly

be anything else than in fiat a Shaw ; yet the figure is so poor that

it does not seem wise to adopt the name in place of infiata,

especially as some authors have used the name C. undulata for

the Mediterranean shell. See Buquoy and Dautzenberg, 1882,

Moll. Mar. Roussillon 1 : 66, pi. 7, f . 3, 4.

Cassidea sulcosa Bruguiere, 1792, probably comprised the pre-

ceding as well as some other forms. It has often been used for

8. gibba, but besides some doubt as to exactly what Bruguiere

had, the name is later than gibba.

Buccinum testudo Solander, of the Portland Catalogue, 1786,

which Dall marked "+ Cassis sulcosa" (Nautilus 34: 98), was

based on figures of a very different Dolium (Tonna), not a

Cassis. We do not know what Dall intended by the plus sign.

NOTE ON THE TYPE OF HELIX (HELICOGENA)

GILVUS FERUSSAC

BY DR. CARLOS DE LA TORRE

University of Habana

In July, 1925, I had opportunity to study the type specimen

of Helix gilvus Fer.1 in the collection of Ferussac types in the

Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, au Jardin des Plantes, in Paris.

Through the courtesy of the Museum authorities I was able to

examine this type carefully. It is a unique specimen, perfectly

preserved, on its original tablet. As soon as I saw it I realized

i Helix (Helicogena) gilvus Ferussac, 1821, Tabl. Syst. Fam. Lima^ons p.

29, No. 36 (no description or locality). Hist. Nat. Moll. Terr., Fluv., pi. 21

B, f. 1; Expl. PI. Suppl. 1822, p. ii.

78 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

that D'Orbigny had committed an error when he applied the

name H. gilva Fer.2 to our Cuban Cepolis from Trinidad and

Jagua (an ancient name for Cienfuegos). Our species has the

same size and general appearance, but it differs by the weakness

or absence of pink coloring or stain on the columella, as well as

some other characters, such as the details of banding, the apex

or embryonic shell, and the interior of the aperture.

H. gilvus Fer. has a continuous dark chestnut peripheral line,

and another, also continuous, subsutural line; the rest of the

bands (four at the base and two or three above), are lighter

colored, ferruginous, and interrupted, like species of the group

of Cepolis varians, C. troscheli, C. multifasciata and others.

The apex has a corneous, somewhat purplish tint under the lens,

and the interior of the shell is also somewhat violaceous pinkish.

The surface has a distinctly ribbed sculpture.

Upon observing these characters I was convinced that Ferus-

sac's H. gilvus is not the Cuban species and that it must be one

of the Bahaman group. On looking over the Bahaman species

with Dr. Pilsbry, I conclude that it is in all probability iden-

tical with Helix milleri Pfr., which agrees with Ferussac's type

better than H. multifasciata "Weinl.

The Cuban Helix gilva Orb. (nee Ferussac) must receive

another name, and I propose to call it Cepolis pseudogilva. The

name H. corrugata Pfr., 1841, cannot be used on account of the

prior Helix corrugata Gmelin, 1791. The name H. pallida Rang

MS., in Arango, from "S. Yago de Cuba" (Rang), is equal to

H. fuscolaoiata Poey.

2 Helix gilva Fer., Orbigny, 1841, Hist. Phys., Polit., Nat. de l'lle de Cuba,

1 : 157, pi. 8, f . 9, 10, 11. D 'Orbigny 's figures are about 12 times natural

size. His type was the maximum size, 17 mm. diam. ; it is more often about

15 mm. The hill ' ' La Vigia ' ' at Trinidad may be accepted as type locality.

His figures are good for a common pattern found there.

January, 1939] the nautilus 79

SPHAERIIDS FROM THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

BY NILS HJ. ODHNEE

Stockholm, Sweden

With one text-figure and Plate 6

From Mr. W. J. Eyerdam, Seattle, I received for identifica-

tion a small collection of Sphaeriids that he had brought back

from the Aleutian Islands, a district, from where, as far as I

know, no identified species of these small freshwater mussels

has been recorded. That the genus Pisidium is represented in

those islands, is, however, a known fact, since Dall (1897) stated

the occurrence of Pisidium "on many of the Aleutians," but

no definite species seems to have been mentioned in the literature.

One of the species in Mr. Eyerdam 's collection is named by Sterki

after the collector, but I cannot find any literary reference to

this species, so it seems to be undescribed, and, besides, it proves

to belong to a species already known. Though small, the present

collection therefore offers a faunistic interest, the more so, as it

confronts us with the question about identical species in the

Eurasian and the American faunas. The material collected

consists exclusively of dried specimens, which is regrettable,

since an examination of the soft parts is in many cases the only

means of getting a sure determination of the species of Pisidia.

Only five species have been discriminated.

Sphaerium nitidum Clessin. Unimak Island, False Pass, in

a lake (Aug. 1932), several sps., max. length 6.5 mm.; Amlia

Island, in a lake (July 1932), numerous sps., max. length about

8 mm. The species is easily recognized in its very fine and

regular costulation of the umbonal region (fig. 6), a character

not met with in any other species of Sphaerium. The Eurasian

Sphaerium corneum has smooth umbones and attains a larger

size. The two species are different also in the soft parts, e.g.,

the proportions of gills and the shape of nephridium, as I have

shown in 1929 (I.e., figs. 16-18).

The presence in the Aleutians of Sph. nitidum, originally

described from western Siberia, is rather surprising, since no

reports of its occurrence in the eastern parts of Siberia are

available. This depends, no doubt, on the relative scarcity of

80

THE NAUTILUS

[Vol. 52 (3)

collecting work in those regions and on lack of acquaintance

with the species and its characters. These are, however,

described by me in a brief account of its habitus and distribu-

tion in 1921 (c/. Literature), when first I recorded it as a Scandi-

Fig. 1. Distribution of Sphaerium nitidum Clessin.

navian inhabitant, and in 1929. The map, text figure 1, shows

its distribution as hitherto known. It was originally described

in Westerlund's work (1877) on the Siberian mollusca (in

Swedish), where it was reported from two localities on the lower

Jenissei: Lusino, 68° 40' N., and Dudino, 69° 15' N. In 1937,

I gave a summary of its distribution in N. Russia (it occurs

probably in the Solowetski Islands) and Finland, as well as in

the Scandinavian Peninsula, from North Sweden south to

Harjedalen, and from Northern Norway south to Gjovik; gen-

erally, it is met with next to the highest regions of the peninsula.

The Scandinavian distribution of Sph. nitidum leads one to

suppose that its immigration has taken place in postglacigene

time from the northeastern parts of Europe, and that, on account

of its route being across the course of the rivers, it has been

dispersed by means of waterfowl. The isolated occurrences on

the two Aleutian islands seems to be explainable only by the

same assumption, in which case it certainly has had, or still has,

a foothold on the continental coasts, like the Pisidium species

below.

Pisidium cinereum Alder (= casertanum Poli). Akatan

Island, NE. of whaling station, in a pond (June 1934, I. Nor-

berg), a few sps., max. length 4 mm. ; the same island, in a small

lake (Aug. 1934, I. Norberg), a few sps., max. length 4.6 mm.;

January, 1939] the nautilus 81

besides, the same species is taken on Kodiak Island, Three Saints

Bay, in a pond (Aug. 1931, Eyerdam) and sent me as paratypes

under the name of P. eyerdami Sterki (max. length 4 mm.),

and from Cordova, Alaska, in a creek (May 1936, I. Norberg),

a few sps., max. length 3.7 mm. Considering the great varia-

bility of this species, it may be remarked that it offers some

slight modifications of shape in different localities, even in the

same island (Akatan) ; the lake form (fig. 1) differs here from

the pond form in its pale straw yellow color, its somewhat more

posterior umbones and its straighter cardinals, and it is very

similar to P. subtruncatum, though less oblique; the animal,

however, has the characters of P. cinereum in its well separated

mantle margins. The pond form, on the other hand, has the

same grayish color and the more median umbones as in the

Alaskan specimens (from Cordova and Kodiak, fig. 3), though

these in their turn have less prominent umbones and a greater

height of shell. These slight differences in shape cannot be

considered as of specific importance the more so, as the animal

in all cases has the characters of P. cinereum, as far as could be

established on the dried material, and for these reasons I cannot

accept P. eyerdami as a distinct species.

I have compared the present forms of P. cinereum with the

Pisidia described by Westerlund (1877) from Siberia and

Alaska, and I have found the Akatan lake form to agree closely

with specimens from Port Clarence determined by Westerlund

as P. sibiricum Clessin (collected by the Vega Expedition the

23rd-26th of July 1879). The Kodiak form is more like P.

boreale from Siberia in its depressed umbones. These two

"species" were listed all right as synonyms of P. cinereum by

Woodward (1913), and the same was the case with P. norden-

skjoldi. As to the Akatan pond form, this is most similar to a

form of P. cinereum that I got from Mr. Eyerdam from Kamt-

chatka (gulf of Kronotski, in a small stream, coll. July 1925)

and that has been identified by Sterki as P. roseum Scholtz

(which is likewise identical with P. cinereum) .

In this connection it may be mentioned that among the P.

sibiricum (stored in the Swedish Riksmuseum and determined

by Westerlund) from Port Clarence (Vega Exp.) were a good

82 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

many specimens of P. obtusale Pfeiffer (= obtusalastrum Wood-

ward), which had not been discriminated by Westerlund. This

species (fig. 2), hitherto not recorded from N. America, thus

proves to belong to the American Arctic fauna. The specimens

are similar to the general boreal form (e.g., from Sweden) and

have a similar ovoid (not oblique) shape, and short, almost

straight inner cardinal in the left valve; the largest specimen

is 3.2 mm. in length.

Pisidium lilljeborgi Clessin (fig. 4). Woodward (1913)

includes in his list of synonyms of P. cinereum, with a query,

P. arcticum Westerlund, from Port Clarence. This species, the

type of which is in the Swedish Riksmuseum, has proved, on my

examination, to be identical with P. lilljeborgi Clessin, inasmuch

as shape and denticulation are similar. P. arcticum has the

same oblique prolongation towards front and below as typical

specimens of P. lillejeborgi. With the present species I think

we have to unite also P. scutellatum which Sterki described in

1896 from Like Michigan (relatively deep water) and which he

reports from the Pribilof Islands in 1917. Judging from the

illustrations by Baker (1902, pi. XXXI, fig. 14), shape and

dentition are in good agreement in both forms, and P. scutel-

latum has a distribution in America (lakes and high mountains,

from "Vermont, the Great Lakes region, west to Colorado and

north as far as the Yukon Territory," Mozley 1931), which

corresponds well to its distribution in Europe and Asia (to the

vicinity of Lake Baical, Mozley 1935).

P. lilljeborgi is present in the Eyerdam collection, too, namely

from Unimak Island, False Pass, together with Sph. nitidum, a

few sps., max. length 3.8 mm. It differs, however, from the

typical form in being less oblique, the frontal margin being more

curved, and the whole outline thus well rounded (fig. 4). On

account of its thinner shell, the present form has its hinge plate

very narrow and its cardinals almost straight and more elongate

than in P. obtusale ; the ligament fossule is also long and narrow

in comparison with that of the latter species from P. Clarence.

A similar rounded form of P. lilljeborgi has been figured by

Woodward (1913, pi. 28, figs. 13, 17, 22).

Pisidium milium Held. Only one specimen of this species was

January, 1939] the nautilus 83

found in Akatan Island, together with P. cinereum (Aug. 1934,

I. Norberg), 2.4 mm. in length. It differs somewhat (fig. 5)

from Scandinavian specimens in its front being more rounded

instead of obliquely protruding below. The dentition, however,

proves the identity, and the mantle margins, as far as could be

ascertained from the dried animal, were coalesced, quite as in

the type, for some length in front of the branchial opening.

P. milium is not an unexpected inhabitant of the Aleutians,

because it has a wide distribution not only in the Palaearctic

region, but according to Sterki (1926) also in North America

' ' from New England and New York to Ontario, Michigan, Mani-

toba, to western Washington, also in the Rocky Mountains of

Colorado, at high altitudes."

Pisidium conventus Clessin. To this species I refer a very

small specimen (length 1.7 mm.) from Unimak Island, False

Pass, found together with P. lilljeborgi. Though it is very diffi-

cult to examine Pisidia of small size and especially young ones,

I do not hesitate to identify the present empty shell with this well

characterized Arctic species, on account of its shape, dentition

and microscopic sculpture. Consequently, also this Arctic

species belongs to the American fauna, though it still remains

to be detected on the American continent. It seems to be the

most hardy mollusc in the Arctic region, as it has been found

living on such extreme latitudes as in Novaya Zemlya, and it

has a distribution from N. Scandinavia southwards to the Alpine

lakes, where it was described by Clessin in 1877, who later on

discriminated a lot of "species" inhabiting each its own deep

lake, most of them, however, mere modifications of P. conventus,

as I have shown in 1923. Later P. conventus was found in Great

Britain, Finland and Siberia (Lake Teletsk). It is the type of

the subgenus Neopisidium characterized in having only a single

gill on each side, a single mantle siphon and a simple nephridium.

For further information I refer to my paper of 1937 (see below).

Literature

Baker, F. C, The Mollusca of the Chicago Area. The Gastro-

poda. The Chicago Acad, of Sci. Bull. Ill, pt. II, 1902.

Dall, W. H., The Mollusk Fauna of the Pribilof Islands. The

Fur Seals and Fur Seal Islands of the N. Pacific Ocean,

pt. Ill, 1899.

84 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

Mozley, A., Reports of the Jasper Park Lakes Investigations,

1925-26. The Mollusca of Jasper Park. Trans. Roy.

Soc. Edinburgh, 56, 1931.

The Fresh "Water and Terrestrial Mollusca of Northern

Asia. Ibid., 58, 1935.

Odhner, N. HJ., Sphaerium nitidum, a Siberian Freshwater

Mussel, in Sweden. Proc. Malac. Soc., 14, 4. 1921.

Die Molluskenfauna des Takern. Sjon Takerns Fauna och

Flora utg. av K. Sv. Vet.-Akacl. Stockholm 1929.

Einige in Finnland neu gefundene Susswassermollusken.

Acta Soc. pro Fauna et Flora Fennica, 60, 1937.

Sterki, V., Two New Pisidia. The Nautilus 9, 1896.

A new Mollusc of the Genus Pisidium from Alaska with

Field Notes by G. Dallas Hanna. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus.

51, 1917.

Sphaeriidae, palaearctic and nearctic. The Nautilus 40,

1926.

Westerlund, C. A., Sibiriens Land-Och Sotvatten-Mollusker.

K. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl. 14, Stockholm 1877.

Woodward, B. V., Catalogue of the British Species of Pisidium.

London 1913.

A TRIAD OF UMBILICATE LATIRUS, RECENT

AND PLIOCENE

BY H. A. PILSBEY

Two large and peculiar species of Latirus are among the recent

discoveries of Messrs. Tom McGinty and Maxwell Smith in south-

ern Florida. A third related species from St. Thomas is described

in this connection.

Latirus mcgintyi, new species. PI. 5, fig. 8.

The shell is strong and solid, openly umbilicate, fusiform, the

spire tapering rather slowly (the early whorls lost in the type) ;

the periphery (measured in front) about midway of the length;

anterior part of the last whorl cylindric, terminating in a narrow

siphonal fasicole around a large, funnel-shaped umbilicus. Suture

not deeply impressed. Sculpture of heavy rounded axial folds at

the periphery and downward to the basal contraction, eight on

each of the later whorls. These are crossed by about five spiral

cords, more prominent in the intervals of the folds, the lower two

being contiguous and forming a weak angulation next to the basal

concavity; there are also several low, unequal spirals on the

January, 1939] the nautilus 85

cjdindric anterior part. Between the cords there are several un-

equal spiral threads; these extend also over the foldless concave

zone between periphery and suture. The irregularly racquet-

shaped aperture has about nine lirae in the throat and two oblique

folds on the columella, a barely perceptible third fold below them.

Anterior end of the siphon is recurved. The shell is cream colored,

with traces of tawny-olive periostracum where unworn. The

aperture is shell pink within, deepening to coral pink in the throat.

Length 69.5 mm., diam. 31 mm. ; length of aperture 36.5 mm. ;

about 6 whorls remaining.

Lake "Worth, Palm Beach Co., Florida, collected by Tom

McGinty, for whom it is named.

Latirus recurviro strum (Turbinella recurvirostra Schubert &

Wagner, 1829, Neues Syst. Conchylien-Cabinet 12 : 100, pi. 227, f .

4021 a, b) is a peculiar species of this group, much more lengthened

and slender anteriorly than L. mcgintyi. Reeve reported it from

Luzon on Cuming's authority. His figure, copied by Tryon, does

not seem typical for Schubert & Wagner's species. I have not

seen it.

Latirus trochlearis (Kobelt). Plate 5, fig. 7.

The shell is similar to L. mcgintyi in general form but is broader

with a shorter spire; the periphery (in front view) is above the

middle of the length ; the axial folds are higher, nearly nine to a

whorl. The spiral cords are stronger, the pair above the basal

contraction being heavy and prominent. Interstitial spiral

threads are unequal. The cream colored shell is covered with a

rather thin tawny-olive periostracum. Above the last two whorls

there are liver-brown spots in the intercostal intervals. The aper-

ture is buff within with rather weak lirae in the throat and five

columellar folds, three being well developed, the upper and lower

very small.

Length 65.5 mm., diam. 35 mm. ; length of aperture 33 mm. ; 8

whorls, the apex lost.

A young shell shows a slightly bulbous nucleus of If smooth

whorls, the first whorl strongly convex, then becoming flat, an

axially low-ribbed stage of about a third of a turn following, then

the sculpture of the adult stage begins.

Originally described from St. Jan ; the specimen figured is from

St. Thomas, West Indies, 34983 ANSP., collected by Robert Swift.

This is the West Indian shell which Tryon (Man. Conch. 3 : 89)

identified as Latirus maderensis (Watson). That Madeiran

86 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

species (described as Chascax maderensis "Watson, Proc. Zool. Soc.

Lond. 1873, p. 362, pi. 36, f. 30) differs in many details of sculp-

ture and form. It has an even larger umbilicus, and is undoubt-

edly distinct from the West Indian species. The specimen figured

is larger than Kobelt's type of " Turbinella" trochlearis, Syst.

Conchyl.-Cab., Turbinella, p. 79, pi. 19, f. 1, 2. 1876.

Latirus maxwelli, new species. PL 5, fig. 9.

The shell is solid, openly umbilicate, fusiform, the spire taper-

ing regularly, the periphery (viewed in front) being a little above

the middle of the length. Anteriorly it is somewhat cylindric and

terminates bluntly, with a prominent, rounded siphonal fasciole

around the deep umbilicus. Sculpture of moderately prominent

axial folds (nearly nine on each whorl), weak near the suture and

vanishing at the basal contraction of the last whorl. Over all a

sharply developed sculpture of strong spiral cords alternating

with threads except in the subsutural zone, where the cords are

smaller and subequal. On the cylindroid anterior part there are

about four somewhat larger cords with interstitial threads. The

racquet-shaped aperture is strongly lirate within, the lirae about

12, arranged in pairs, the lower pair short, hardly entering. There

is a strong ridge on the parietal wall near the posterior angle of

aperture, and four columellar folds, the lowest one short, not

entering.

Length 64 mm., diam. 27.3 mm. ; length aperture 33.5 mm. ;

about 6| whorls remaining.

Ortona Locks, De Soto Co., Florida. Caloosahatchee Pliocene.

Type 13534 ANSP., collected by Maxwell Smith, for whom it is

named.

This beautiful fossil is quite unlike anything known from the

Caloosahatchee beds. It is most nearly related to the living Lati-

rus trochlearis and L. mcgintyi, but differs conspicuously by the

profuse development of spiral sculpture and the weaker axial

folds.

THE NAUTILUS: 52 (3)

PLATE 5

«

"X

*S 3

/

r

. •

/

\

/ *

5

"K

1

1 &

•

1-3. St

wawia gibba, Lake Worth. 4, S. gibba abbreviata. 5, S. eieatri-

cosa penstephes. 6, S. cieatricosa. 7, Latirus eochlearis. s, I, mcgintyi

9, L. maxwelli. " '

January, 1939] the nautilus 87

NOTES ON THE GENERA POTAMOPYRGUS

AND LYRODES

BY J. P. E. MOREISONi

The genus Potamopyrgus was created by Stimpson in 18652

for Melania corolla Gould, of New Zealand. Huttonia Johnson

1891, 3 with the same type species, is necessarily an absolute syn-

onym. The " spines" present on these shells are solely epider-

mal fringes. The animals of dried specimens (U.S.N.M. Cat.

No. 126677) of another member of this group, P. antipodarum

Gray, were examined after softening in water. The verge of

antipodarum is long, geniculate, and simple ; its shape is that of

a long narrow U ; the distal half folded forward dextrally along

the proximal half. The eyes are on prominent tubercles, as

stated by Stimpson in the original description of the genus. This

species is oviparous; presumably the other New Zealand forms

reproduce likewise.

In 1865 Stimpson regarded the American forms as distinct and

designated P. auoeriana D'Orb., as type of the genus Paludestrina

D'Orb., in the mistaken belief that the description in Sagra's

Cuba4 represented its earliest publication.

Lyrodes Doering 1884,5 with L. gnaraniticus as type, is the

earliest valid name available. Pyrgophorus Ancey 1888,6 with

Pyrgulopsis spinosa C. & P. as type, is probably completely syn-

onymous. The " spines," when present, are filled by shell ma-

terial, in the shape of laminiform tubercles. Examination of

dried specimens of three forms of this group: crystallina Pfr.

from St. Croix (U.S.N.M. Cat. No. 472697) ; jamaicensis C.B.Ad.

from Jamaica (U.S.N.M. Cat. No. 66416) ; and spinosa C. & P.

from Brownsville, Texas (U.S.N.M. Cat. No. 217054) has shown

that the verge is complex, in agreement with that described and

1 Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institu-

tion.

2 Am. Journ. Conch., I, 1865, p. 53.

3 Proc. Royal Soc. Tasmania for 1890, p. 90 (1891).

* D'Orbigny in Sagra's Cuba, Moll., II, (1841), p. 8.

s Bol. Acad. Nac. Ciencas Cordoba (Rep. Argentina), VII, 1884, pp. 461-

3, fig. 2.

6 Bull. Soc. Mai. de France, V, 1888, p. 192.

88 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

figured by H. B. Baker7 for L. parvula (Guild.) from Curacao.

The four of six appendages are arranged in a pattern differing

from that known for Littoridina Souleyet.8 The eyes are seen

as imbedded in the outer base of the tentacles, not on tubercles.

All the known members of the group are ovo-viviparous ; some

females in the St. Croix material had the uterus packed with

twenty to thirty shelled embryonic young. These are visible

through the translucent shell of the adult female (if cleaned).

In fact, all the females of this lot were separated from the males

by observation of the whitish uterus within the last whorl.

Softening of "dried-in" animals by five to ten minutes brisk

boiling in water in a test tube is successful enough to examine

superficial or gross anatomical features, whenever the animals

have not been destroyed by moulding, decay, or the feeding of

dermestids.

To contrast the genera:

Potamopyrgas Stimpson 1865. Lyrodes Doering 1884.

Epidermal spines on shell. Calcareous spines on shell.

Verge long, geniculate, and Verge briefly geniculate, and

simple. complex (appendages).

Eyes on prominent tubercles. Eyes not on tubercles.

Oviparous. Ovo-viviparous.

Rane-e : New Zealand. Eansre : East American.

NOTE ON THE GENUS LUCINA IN THE

WESTERN ATLANTIC

BY EICHAED A. McLEAN

Lucina, in the strict sense, contains only two species in the

western Atlantic, these are L. pensylvanica L., the genotype, and

L. sombrerensis Dall, a small deep-water form.

Dall (1901, p. 807-808) lists four species and places them in

the subgenus Here Gabb 1866, but as Stewart1 has pointed out

this name was proposed for a species that is somewhat different

7 Occ. papers, Mus. Zool., U. of Mich., No. 210, p. 32, pi. 27, fig. 3 (1930).

s Voyage, etc., La Bonite, Zool., II, p. 565 (1852).

i Stewart, E. B. 1930. Gabb 's California Cretaceous and Tertiary Type

Lamellibranchs. Special Publ. No. 3, Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, p. 175-

180.

THE NAUTILUS: 52 (3)

PLATE 6

1, Pisidium dnereum Alder, Akatan Island. 2, P. obtusale Pfeiffer, Port

Clarence. 3, P. cinereum Alder, Kodiak Island. 4, P. lilljeborgi Clessin,

Unimak Island. 5, P. milium Held, Akatan Island. 6, Sphaerium nitidum

Clessin, small shell showing umbonal sculpture, Amlia Island. Figs. 1-5 x 12,

fig. 6 x 14.

January, 1939] the nautilus 89

from the typical Lucinas. If a subgeneric name were needed,

Linga Gregorio 1885, could be used, but as L. pensylvanica L. is

the genotype, this is not necessary.

Dall lists, besides the two species mentioned above, L. adansonii

d'Orb. and L. aurantius Desh. The first of these is a small

globose form from the Canary Ids. and the second, in my opin-

ion is merely a local variation of L. pensylvanica L. This species

is extremely variable. With a large series before me containing

lots taken all through its range in the western Atlantic I can see

no line of demarcation between the very flat type with a con-

spicuous periostracum and the smooth, deep, adansonii-like

forms. I do not feel that the deep specimens are adansonii as

they are consistently larger and not quite as deep as in a goodly

series of this species which we have from the Canary Is. The

form called aurantius by Deshayes is only an extreme case of

pigmentation. We have many specimens containing this orange

pigment, the coloration varying from a few orange spots located

anywhere on the shell to a complete orange margin as in the one

figured by Chemnitz and named by Deshayes. Thus, in the west-

ern Atlantic we have :

Lucina pensylvanica (Linne)

Venus pensylvanica Linne 1858, Syst. Nat. Ed. 10, p. 688.

Lucina (Here) adansonii d'Orb., Dall 1901, Proc. United States

Nat. Mus. 23, p. 807.

Lucina aurantia Desh. 1832, Ency. Meth. (Vers) 2 (2), p. 384.

Lucina sombrerensis Dall

Lucina sombrerensis Dall 1886, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 12,

p. 264.

A SINISTRAL SPECIMEN OF BUSYCON PYRUM

(DILLWYN)

BY BURNETT SMITH

During a recent examination of the Busycon material in the

United States National Museum the writer was much surprised

to find a left-handed or sinistral individual apparently referable

to Busycon pyrum (Dillwyn).1 Through the kindness of Doctor

i Dillwyn, Lewis Weston : A Descriptive Catalogue of Recent Shells ar-

90 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

Paul Bartsch of the United States National Museum it is now

possible to present a short notice of this specimen. Doctor

Harald A. Rehder of the same institution obligingly arranged

for the photographs which are used to illustrate this paper.

The shell under consideration has a long dimension of about

42 mm. The diameter of its last whorl is about 24 mm. at the

shoulder keel. The specimen bears the United States National

Catalogue number 107054. It is from the Lea collection, and its

locality is stated as Gulf of Mexico. In the same box with the

sinistral example is a slightly larger normal dextral specimen of

Busy con pyrum (Dillwyn). This latter is marked with the same

museum number. Such marking, of course, does not prove that

the two shells came from the same locality in the Gulf of Mexico

but there is at least a possibility that such is the case. The left-

handed individual shows the real or apparent obliquity of coiling

to axis which has been noted in sinistral shells generally. This,

however, is not believed to furnish a sufficient argument for

specific or varietal distinction. Were there many other speci-

mens like this left-handed channelled Busycon the naming of a

new species or variety might conceivably be in order. With but

one individual at hand it seems more proper to regard the shell

as that of a freak Busycon pyrum (Dillwyn.) This second

course is adopted in this paper. Sinistrality is here individual.

Sinistrality of specific value is well established among the Busy-

cons which lack the sutural channel, and it is not unlikely that

individual inversions of coiling are also to be found in this group.

In the channelled Busycons (Sycotypus), on the other hand,

specific sinistrality is unknown and the only case of individual

reversal known to the writer is that furnished by the subject of

this notice — Busycon pyrum (Dillwyn) United States National

Museum 107054.

The literature of conchology abounds in records of occasional

sinistral individuals in species normally dextral. Dextral indi-

ranged according to the Linnaean Method with Particular Attention to the

Synonymy. 2 vols. London, 1817. See vol. I, p. 485.

Lister, Martin: Historia Sive Synopsis Methodica Conchyliorum. Editio

Tertia. (L. W. Dillwyn, 1823.) See pi. 877, fig. 1.

Martini, Friedrich Heinrich Wilhelm: Neues Systematisches Conchylien-

Cabinet. Ill, 1777. See pi. 66, figs. 736, 737.

January, 1939] the nautilus 91

viduals of normally sinistral species are also known, but their

number appears to be considerably less. In the present paper

it is believed sufficient to cite only a few bibliographic titles bear-

ing more or less directly on the case under consideration.

In his discussion of Sycotypus Conrad2 says: "We have no

knowledge of any anatomical characters by which to separate

this genus from Busy con, Bolten, . . . but as the two groups

have very characteristic differences in the shells, one being

spinous and the other channelled and tuberculated, the one hav-

ing reversed species, the other never reversed, it is most con-

venient to regard them as distinct genera," etc.

From this quotation it is quite evident that examples of sinis-

tral channelled Busycons (Sycotypus) were unknown to Conrad

who unquestionably could speak with authority on both recent

and fossil shells of this group.

Lists of individual reversals in coiling have appeared since

Conrad's day. The most recent ones located are those of Pel-

seneer3 published in 1920 but apparently compiled for the most

part in 1914 or earlier. The genus Busy con is not given in these

lists, and it is therefore probable that the reversed individual of

Busy con pyrum noted here represents an addition to teratologi-

cal records.

Explanation of Figures. — Busy con pyrum (Dillwyn). Re-

versed (sinistral) individual. Long dimension about 42 mm.

Diameter of last whorl about 24 mm. at the shoulder keel. Fig.

a — View with aperture turned toward observer. Fig. b — View

with aperture turned away from observer. Fig. c — Apical view.

2 Conrad, T. A. : Synopsis of the Genera Sycotypus, Browne, and Busycon,

Bolten. Amer. Jour. Conch. 3, 2, pp. 182-185. 1867. See p. 182.

3 Pelseneer, Paul : L 'Inversion chez les Mollusques au Point de Vue de la

Variation et de l'Heredite. Bui. Scientifique de la France et de la Belgique,

48, 1920, pp. 351-380. See pp. 355-362.

Pelseneer, Paul: Les Variations et leur Heredite chez les Mollusques.

Bruxelles, 1920. 826 pp. figs. See pp. 30-37.

92 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

TWO NEW PHILIPPINE LAND SHELLS

BY PAUL BAETSCH

Curator of Mollusks and Cenozoic Invertebrates, United States

National Museum1

Material sent to the United States National Museum makes it

necessary to give a status to two new races of Philippine land

shells, which is here done.

Eucyclophorus woodianus isabelanus, new subspecies. Plate

7, figs. 2, 3, 4.

This race has the peristome salmon colored, in which respect

it resembles Eucyclophorus woodianus ambubuquensis Kobelt,

from which it can readily be distinguished by its much smaller size

and the much stronger spiral sculpture and stronger spotting at the

summit of the whorls. The underside also is much darker.

The type, U.S.N.M. no. 314083, which is a rather large speci-

men coming from Isabela, Luzon, has 5.1 whorls and measures:

Length, 20.2 mm. ; greater diameter, 27.0 mm. ; lesser diameter,

22.3 mm.

The smallest of the specimens in our collection has 4.8 whorls

and measures : Length, 16.4 mm. ; greater diameter, 26.0 mm. ;

lesser diameter, 18.9 mm.

Helicostyla lignaria atra, new subspecies. Plate 7, fig. 1.

This subspecies is distinguished from the other races of H.

lignaria by its exceedingly dark coloration, in which respect it

recalls H. I. aguinalcloi Bartsch. It is distinguished from that in

having the periphery not well rounded but obsoletely angulated.

The color pattern is quite variable, the ground color, of course,

being almost blackish brown and the hydrophanous epidermis

wood-colored with few or many spiral bands of dark. These

bands vary very much in width in different individuals.

The type, U.S.N.M. no. 314082, which comes from Isabela,

Luzon, has 6.0 whorls and measures : Length, 73.5 mm. ; greater

diameter, 52.2 mm. ; lesser diameter, 47.7 mm. This is the largest

of our series of specimens.

Two additional specimens, U.S.N.M. no. 314084, from the same

source have, respectively, 6.0 and 5.3 whorls, and measure :

Length, 62.1 mm., 58.3 mm. ; greater diameter, 47.4 mm., 50.2

mm. ; lesser diameter, 41.7 mm., 43.3 mm., respectively.

i Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

THE NAUTILUS: 52 (3)

PLATE 7

Pigs, a, b, e, Bus/icon pyrum (Dillwyn), sinistral.

Fig. 1, Helicostyla Ugnaria atra Bartsch.

Figs. 2, 3, 4, Eucyclophorus woodianus isabelanus Bartsch.

January, 1939] the nautilus 93

OXYSTYLA FROM WESTERN MEXICO

BY THOMAS L. McGINTY

A magnificent series of West Mexican Oxystyla was taken near

Acapulco by Dr. Blenn R. Bales of Circleville, Ohio, during the

past winter season. Acapulco, in the State of Guerrero, is lo-

cated on the Pacific some 200 miles by motor from Mexico City.

Dr. Bales 's enthusiastic letters from Mexico gave us the first hint

of the surprise that was in store for us. Later when a large

series of the Oxystyla arrived, they presented a problem as com-

plex as our own Florida Liguus. There are some hybrids, as

can be expected among these arboreal snails, living as they do in

close proximity to each other. The Doctor enlisted the help of

natives in collecting, and hence a much finer series of specimens

was obtained. It is interesting to note that the natives fear the

snails, believing that the "horns shoot poison." All snails

brought in had the apertures carefully packed with leaves to pre-

vent such a catastrophe.

A plate illustrating these shells has been prepared, and will

appear in the next Nautilus, with descriptions of new color races

of 0. ponderosa Strebel, and others. Meantime the discoverer and

the author join with pleasure in naming this distinctive Oxystyla

for Doctor Carlos de la Torre, eminent Cuban naturalist.

Oxystyla torrei, new species. PL 8, figs. 7 and 8.

Habitat: vicinity of Acapulco.

Shell elongate-conic or ovate conic, rather thick and strong

with convex whorls; the second whorl has a decidedly swollen

appearance, almost to the extent of deformity in some specimens.

The last whorl is very small and is pinched in at the suture be-

tween the two final whorls. Apical mark minute, reddish-brown,

earliest 2| whorls light pink. Ground color of shell brown,

yellowish or cream in light shells if the cuticle has been removed.

Flammulations brown, irregular, often with a violaceous tinge

and not present on the final whorl in light colored shells. A

tawny yellow cuticle covers the two final whorls. There are three

bands on the last whorl. Varices prominent, black-brown, often

bordered behind by an olive stripe, and usually four to five on

the whole shell. Aperture very small, peristome broadly bor-

dered inside with black-brown fading into the white of the in-

terior, other varices bordered outside with light blue-gray;

94 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

columella very heavy and twisted, generally white ; parietal cal-

lus dark brown.

Holotype: Height 63.5 mm., diam. 29 mm., whorls 7. ANSP.

No. 173342.

Paratype: Height 57 mm., diam. 27 mm., whorls 6|. ANSP.

No. 173343.

Paratypes in the Bales and McGinty collections.

(To be continued)

A SNAIL "TAXI"

BY GORDON K. MACMILLAN

Carnegie Museum

The larvae of certain Neuropterous insects of the family Heme-

robiidae have the peculiar habit of covering themselves with a

protective mat of empty insect skins, bits of bark, fibers of plant

and animal origin, pieces of lichens, and spiders' webs. The

larvae are furnished at the sides with projections, which serve

as pedicles to elongate divergent hairs, and these help to keep

the mass in place on the back of the insect. Some fine threads

are distributed through this curious mantle and serve to keep it

from disintegrating. These threads may be fragments of

spiders' webs or threads spun by the insect themselves. The

larvae either place small bits of these materials upon their backs

with the jaws, or they crawl under them and then shift them in

place by body movements assisted by the jaws.

During my four months' collecting trip this past summer

throughout West Virginia I came upon six of these snail ' ' taxis ' '

under layers of leaves or between piles of fallen bark. Not only

were the mantles constructed of the materials mentioned above

but they also had numerous of the smaller snails attached to

them. At first it appeared that the shells were just massed

together but when I went to pick them up the shell mass began

to move.

The snails found on the mantles of these Neuropterous larvae

were as follows : —

Helicodiscus parallelus (Say)

Gastrocopta pentodon (Say)

Vertigo goiddii (A. Binney)

Punctum pygmaeum minutissimum (Lea)

January, 1939] the nautilus 95

Paravitrea multidentata (A. Binney)

Striatum milium (Morse)

Striatura ferrea (Morse)

Hawaiia minuscula (A. Binney)

Zonitoides arbor eus (Say)

Zonitoides nitidus (Mueller)

Betinella burringtoni (Pilsbry)

Betinella rhoadsi (Pilsbry)

These shells and larvae were found in woods near Weston,

Lewis Co. ; French Creek, Upshur Co. ; and Parsons, Tucker Co.,

West Virginia. (See also, Archer, Nautilus 51: 105 Ed.)

GARDEN MOLLUSCA IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA

BY A. F. AECHEE

In the paper entitled "The Habitats of Land Mollusca in

Britain," A. E. Boycott, 1934 (Journal of Ecology, Vol. 22, p. 22)

mentions the lack of evidence in the literature that there are mol-

lusks in gardens in the United States outside of imported slugs

and snails. He points out that the 100 to 300 years that have

elapsed since the area was settled by European man might conceiv-

ably have been too short a time for any of the native species to

have adapted themselves to gardens and houses. The same situa-

tion is said to hold true likewise for Australia, New Zealand, and

South Africa, where only imported species are recorded as occur-

ring in gardens.

My own field notes and observations indicate that in the case of

eastern North America, at least, there is a fairly considerable

number of species occurring in gardens, and that they are by no

means all imported species. A number of the native species are

as abundant in gardens and around houses as they are in any type

of habitat that they occupy. This is as true of the areas that have

been settled less than 100 years as it is of those of longer occupa-

tion. American gardens vary in nature and quality. Vegetable

gardens are frequently disturbed by the plow from year to year ;

when fallow they may harbor a considerable mollusk population.

Flower gardens may be frequently and intensely disturbed by

weeding and hoeing, or they may be left more or less to them-

96 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

selves especially if planted in large flowering shrubs. The older

the garden and the less frequently disturbed it is, the larger is the

population of snails and slugs. In urban areas the largest mollusk

populations are to be found in vacant lots and neglected slopes.

In Ann Arbor, Michigan, such sites may harbor in their aggregate

15500 individual snails and slugs per acre. However, such habi-

tats are not to be considered in this paper although their assem-

blage of species is nearly identical with that of nearby gardens,

though slightly larger.

In dealing with the area of eastern North America I shall con-

sider the general region north of the Mason-Dixon line separately

from that south of the line, because there are some noticeable dif-

ferences between the garden faunas of the two regions. The most

outstanding feature of the north is the small number of large

native species occupying gardens. In the south quite a number

of the regular inhabitants are fairly large.

The species commonly inhabiting gardens in the north are :

Anguispira alternata Vallonia costata

Cochlicopa lubrica Vallonia pulchella

Deroceras agreste Zonitoides arboreus

Hawaiia minuscula

Of these seven only one is introduced ; three are holarctic in distri-

bution, with only Cochlicopa probably autochthonous to Eurasia ;

and three are definitely confined to America. On poor, unpro-

ductive soils (as in New England) from which Vallonia is usually

excluded, C. lubrica and Z. arboreus are still present as common

units for the whole area.

Species incidentally but inconstantly inhabiting northern gar-

dens are :

Arion circumscriptus Polygyra thyroidus

Deroceras laeve campestre Polygyra appressa fosteri*

Gastrocopta armifera Polygyra fraterna

Helix nemoralis* Polygyra hirsuta

Helix pomatia* Polygyra monodon

Limax maximus Succinea avara

Oxychilus cellarium* Succinea ovalis

Polygyra albolabris Zonitoides ligerus

Species marked with an asterisk are very local introductions ; the

January, 1939] the nautilus 97

Polygyra was brought to New Jersey from southern Illinois; the

other species came from Europe. Of the sixteen species only five

are not of American origin. Polygyra albolabris occurs in gardens

in very small numbers.

In the south the following species commonly occur in gardens

within their appropriate ranges :

Hawaiia minuscula Polygyra rugeli

Limax flavus Polygyra thyroidus

Mesomphix perlaevis Polygyra tridentata juxtidens

Polygyra appressa Polygyra vannostrandi

Polygyra appressa perigrapta alabamensis

Polygyra clausa Zonitoides arboreus

Polygyra hopetonensis Zonitoides demissus

Polygyra inflecta

Only one of the fourteen species is of exotic origin.

Species incidentally occurring in southern gardens are :

Anguispira alternata Oxychilus cellarium*

Deroceras agreste Polygyra albolabris

Deroceras laeve campestre Polygyra fallax

Gastrocopta armifera Polygyra fraterna

Helix aspersa* Rumina decollata*

Helix nemoralis* Vallonia pulchella

Limax maximus

The species marked with an asterisk are localized introductions,

all of European origin. Of the thirteen species in this list five

are exotic, the rest native species.

An inspection of the entire list reveals the fact that out of

twenty-two species in northern gardens five are introductions,

leaving about seventy-seven per cent as native species. Of the

southern garden mollusks six of the twenty-seven species or

twenty-two per cent are of exotic origin. I strongly suspect

this list of North American garden mollusks to be incomplete. No

account has been taken here of mollusks in or immediately around

quite artificial habitats, such as greenhouses.

98 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

A NEW SECTION AND A NEW SUBSPECIES

OF STENOTREMA

BY ALLAN F. ARCHEE

Euchemotrema, new section. — Those Stenotremas lacking a

subanal denticle. Penis very short and club-shaped; in length

less than half the diameter of the shell. Right pilaster very

thick, prominent, and blunt-edged.

This section is intended to include Stenotrema monodon

(Rackett) and 8. fraternum (Say) as distinguished from the

other species of Stenotrema, which belong to the section Steno-

trema (Rafinesque). The latter differs from Euchemotrema in

the following ways : Subanal denticle present. Penis more or less

slender and irregularly sausage-shaped. Right pilaster slender.

The name Euchemotrema is suggested by Chimotrema (Rafi-

nesque) whose identity is somewhat doubtful (H. A. Pilsbry, Proc.

ANSP. 1930:321, 324).

Stenotrema fraternum montanum, new subspecies.

This subspecies has the general specific characters of S. frater-

num and 8. fraternum cavum (P. & V.). Like the latter it is

umbilicate, but differs from it in the following ways :

8. fraternum montanum S. fraternum cavum

1. Shell having an angulated 1. Shell having a rounded or

periphery (excepting the bluntly rounded periphery,

last ^ whorl). 2. Brown peripheral band ab-

2. A brown peripheral band sent,

present.

The shell of montanum is more or less lenticular, and due to

this fact and to the presence of the brown peripheral band it has

been confused with S. monodon cinctum (Lewis). In super-

ficial aspect the two are quite convergent. The differences are

as follows.

S. fraternum montanum 8. monodon cinctum

1. Distal end of parietal lam- 1. Distal end of parietal lam-

ella not strongly slanting ella strongly slanting into

into the aperture. the aperture.

January, 1939] the nautilus 99

2. Surface of the basal sinus 2. Surface of the basal sinus

(analogous to the interden- flattened, dished.

ticular sinus) convex. 3. Nuclear whorl axially stri-

3. Nuclear whorl finely beaded. ated.

4. Left pilaster of penis sim- 4. Left pilaster of penis thick-

pie, slender. ened, indented ; joined to

the right pilaster below the

mid zone by a commissure.

Holotype of montanum: Diameter 11.2 mm.; height 6.0 mm.

Paratypes; Diameter 10.5-11.4 mm.; height 5.9-6.8 mm.

Holotype. — Ala. Mus. Nat. Hist., no. 101, 2800 feet elevation,

knob at CCC Camp NP-4, Smokemont, Swain County, North

Carolina. Paratypes in the Alabama Museum and the ANSP.

Remarks. — This subspecies is confined to the southern part of

the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province, chiefly in the Smoky

and Black Mountains of western North Carolina and east Tennes-

see. It is apparently isolated from the main body of S. fraternum,

and seems to be a definite geographical race. Its recorded range

is: Towns Co., Georgia; Cherokee, Mitchell, and Swain counties,

North Carolina ; Blount Co., Tennessee.

Habitat. — This snail evidently occurs between 2000 and 3000

feet in the lower montane forests. Its plant cover is chiefly

xeric oak-hickory. It lives in hollows in humus under the leaf

carpet and under quartzite slabs. It is also found under fallen

bark around sprouting chestnut stumps and around the boles of

white oak (Quercus alba) and tulip poplar.

A STUDY OF THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE FRESH-

WATER MUSSEL, ANODONTA GRANDIS,

IN NEW ORLEANS1

BY GEORGE H. PENN, JR.

Department of Zoology, Tulane University of Louisiana

Although the life cycle of Anodonta grandis Say has been

studied in certain details in Illinois by another worker,2 it was

i Presented (in part) at the Eighty-fifth Annual Meeting of the New

Orleans Academy of Sciences, Tulane University, March 25, 1938.

2 M. E. Tucker, 1928. Studies of the life cycles of two species of fresh-

water mussels belonging to the genus Anodonta. Biol. Bull. 54: 117-127.

100 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

deemed advisable to study its life cycle in New Orleans to obtain

specific data for this locality, near the southernmost extremity of

its range. The work was conducted under the guidance and

supervision of Dr. F. H. Wilson. To him, to Walter F. Webb

for species determination of the mussel, and to others who lent

assistance in collecting, I wish to express my indebtedness.

The material studied was obtained from the Audubon Park

Lagoon opposite the Tulane campus in New Orleans. The

lagoon is an artificial body of water, dug in 1884 and enlarged

in 1917, about one and one-half miles long and averaging thirty

feet in width. Its bottom is of soft Mississippi river silt stud-

ded in places with numerous broken bricks and coal ashes. The

greatest depth is less than ten feet. With the exception of ir-

regular clearing of semi-aquatic plants along the edges, con-

ditions are mostly on a natural biological balance.

Collections of adult mussels were taken from the lagoon at

weekly intervals during their gravid period. Each collection

consisted of from ten to fifteen specimens picked up at random

in less than two feet of water along the edge of the lagoon. Dur-

ing the latter part of the study two collections of fishes were

taken with seines in shallow water at the south end of the lagoon

and kept in aquaria in the laboratory for periodic examination.

Life Cycle Data. — Four female mussels collected on September

25, 1937 contained unfertilized eggs in the ovaries; in the same

collection six males showed milky sperm in the testes. The eggs

were perfectly spherical and of a crystalline-yellow appearance ;

they averaged 0.12 mm. in diameter.

On September 28th the embryos in the marsupial gills had

reached the sixteen cell stage. Thirteen days later on October

11th the embryos had advanced to the gastrula stage.

By October 18th the larvae had advanced to the glochidial

stage and exhibited clearly the larval thread,3 adductor muscle,

mantle, sensory tufts, and the barbed hooks on the valves. The

glochidia averaged 0.38 by 0.36 mm. In this stage and until they

were released, the glochidia were a reddish-orange color.

3 Nomenclature follows: M. E. Tucker, 1927. Morphology of the glochid-

ium and juvenile of the mussel, Anodonta imbecillis. Trans. Amer. Micros.

Soc. 46: 286-293.

January, 1939] the nautilus 101

Glochidia from females collected on the dates of October 25th,

November 3rd, and November 8th showed no changes in size or

visible structure from those of October 18th.

On November 15th, the marsupia of two of the seven females

collected were partially empty at the anterior ends. No more

than one-sixth of the volume of each gill was released at this

date. Several glochidia from these specimens were placed

in a castor cup in pond water and exhibited slow snapping

movements.

On November 22nd the marsupia of six of the seven females

collected were partially emptied (one-eighth to one-fifth), but the

other female collected was still distended to full extent.

On November 29th all females collected had released all glochi-

dia from their marsupia. Several days later free glochidia

were dipped up with a pan from the silt at the edge of the

lagoon. All of these were dead with their valves tightly closed.

On December 16th, several weeks after it was found that the

glochidia had been released, six species of fishes {Helioperca

macrochira, Aplites salmoides, Xenotis megalotis, Fundulus

chrysotus, Gambusia patmelis, and Ameiurus nebidosus catu-

lus) were caught and the first four of these were found infected

with glochidia. Another collection on January 27th, 1938

showed the encysted glochidia remaining on only the first three

species.

Juveniles dropped from the fishes in the laboratory aquaria

on February 22nd. Others, which dropped from the fishes in

the lagoon at about the same time, averaged 1.1 mm. in length.

Summary

1. A study of the life cycle of Anodonta grandis at New

Orleans showed that the period of gravidity extended from

September 28th to November 29th in 1937, a total of 62 days, or

nine weeks.

2. The total period of attachment of the glochidia to fishes

was 55 days, or eight weeks, from November 29, 1937 to Febru-

ary 22, 1938.

3. Glochidia were found attached to Helioperca macrochira,

Aplites salmoides, Xenotis megalotis, and Fundulus chrysotus.

They encysted on the first three species.

102 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

NOTE ON PECTEN (CHLAMYS) MUSCOSUS WOOD.

1828 AND P. EXASPERATUS SOW. 1842

BY HUGH C. FULTON

The Pecten generally identified as exasperatus Sow. by Ameri-

can conchologists is the earlier described mucosus Wood. The

type specimen of Wood's species figured in the "Index Testa-

ceologicus" 1828, pi. II, fig. 2, is now in the British Museum at

South Kensington.

The type of muscosus is of medium size, uniform brown colour,

with well developed fine rib-scales. From Florida correspond-

ents I have received specimens similar to the type specimen of

muscosus as well as larger and smaller specimens with their rib-

scales more or less worn off.

Sowerby's exasperatus was described in the "Thesaurus Con-

chyliorum," Vol. I, Pecten, 1842, pi. XVIII, figs. 183-186; these

four half-size figures differ from exasperatus in having their

auricles much more equal in size, more ribs and without the

prominent rib-scales of muscosus.

Reeve in his " Conchologica Iconica, " Pecten, 1852, pi. II,

gives three figures of exasperatus Sow., his fig. 7 agrees with

muscosus Wood, the other two figs. 8 & 81), are probably varie-

ties of exasperatus. Reeve gives another figure of exasperatus on

pi. XXIX, fig. 127.

Pecten muscosus is variable in coloration, its chief character-

istics are its large unequal auricles and (when not beach- worn)

prominent scaled ribs.

Sowerby's habitat for exasperatus is the Mediterranean Sea.

Reeve gives St. John Island, West Indies.

I have received specimens of muscosus collected by Mr. W. A.

Royce in 16 fathoms at Aladman's Bay, Florida and in 19

fathoms off St. Marks, Florida.

Maxwell Smith in his useful "East Coast Marine Shells" fig-

ures muscosus on pi. 8, fig. 5, and pi. 9, fig. 4.

January, 1939] the nautilus 103

CYPRAEIDAE FROM AMERICAN SAMOA WITH

NOTES ON SPECIES FROM PALMYRA

ISLAND

BY WILLIAM MARCUS INGRAM

Department of Zoology, Cornell University

The American Samoa Cypraeidae included here are from

Tutuila Island 14° 19' S., 170° 50' W., and from Ofu and Tau

Islands of the Manua group 14° 14' S., 169° 34' W. The localities

from which collections were made in the waters about these islands

are Ofu, Ofu Island ; Luma, Tau Island ; and Fagaitua, Nuuuli,

and Pago Pago, Tutuila Island. Fringing coral reefs in these

areas provide an ideal habitat for the cowries. The reefs are

exposed at low tides and are quite accessible.

The species included here from Ofu and Tutuila Islands were

collected by Mr. L. A. Thurston and Mr. T. Dranga of Honolulu,

Hawaii, during December of 1925 and January of 1926. Their

collections are now housed in the Bernice P. Bishop Museum,

Honolulu. The species from Tau Island were gathered by Mr.

W. Harris of the United States Navy in 1937 and are to be

deposited in the above museum at a later date.

The habitat of several of the species from Tau are based on

collection notes sent to the writer by Mr. Harris. The common

species in the waters about Tau Island are Cypraea annulus L.,

Cypraea caput serpentis L., Cypraea moneta L., and Cypraea

mauritiana L. Cypraea annulus L. and Cypraea moneta L. are

found in quite similar habitats. These two species occur in abun-

dance in branched coral. They are also to be obtained on the dead

coral reef and on coral rocks; however, the latter species is more

common than the former when collected under such conditions.

Cypraea poraria L. and Cypraea helvola L. are found in the living

coral heads, and under blocks of coral rock on the reef platform.

Cypraea mauritiana L. is typically found in two habitats ; in the

tidal zone adhering to black coral rocks, and on the outer edges

of the reefs. It occurs in greater abundance in the former local-

ity. Cypraea erosa L. and Cypraea lynx L. have been collected

from branching coral heads as well as in crevices in coral rock.

Cypraea olvellata Lam. is found in company with Cypraea an-

104 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

nulus L., but is quite rare. Cypraea talpa L. and Cypraea tigris

L. may be collected in association with living coral heads on the

reefs between the tide marks. Cypraea scurra Chemn. and Cy-

praea caurica L. were collected by Mr. Harris under pieces of dead

coral in Pago Pago Bay on the reef table near Goat Island.

Of the 31 species listed here from Samoa 18 occur in Guam, 17

in Hawaii, and 21 in the Christmas, Palmyra, Washington, and

Fanning group of Islands.1, 2- 3

Cypraea annulus Linnaeus. Nuuuli, Tutuila Island; Ofu, Ofu

Island ; Tau Island.

Cypraea arabica Linnaeus. Nuuuli, Tutuila Island.

Cypraea arenosa Linnaeus. Nuuuli, Tutuila Island.

Cypraea argus Linnaeus. Nuuuli, Tutuila Island ; Ofu, Ofu

Island ; Tau Island.

Cypraea asellus Linnaeus. Ofu, Ofu Island; Tau Island.

Cypraea caput serpentis Linnaeus. Nuuuli, Tutuila Island ; Ofu,

Ofu Island ; Tau Island.

Cypraea carneola Linnaeus. Ofu, Ofu Island ; Tau Island.

Cypraea caurica Linnaeus. Paga Pago, Tutuila Island.

Cypraea cicercula Linnaeus. Pago Pago, Tutuila Island ; Tau

Island.

Cypraea erosa Linnaeus. Ofu, Ofu Island; Tau Island.

Cypraea errones Linnaeus. Tau Island ; Pago Pago, Tutuila

Island.

Cypraea fimbriata Gmelin. Tau Island.

Cypraea helvola Linnaeus. Tau Island.

Cypraea hirundo Linnaeus. Tau Island.

Cypraea intermedia Gray. Ofu, Ofu Island.

Cypraea isabella Linnaeus. Ofu, Ofu Island ; Pago Pago, Tutuila

Island.

Cypraea lynx Linnaeus. Ofu, Ofu Island.

Cypraea mappa Linnaeus. Tau Island.

Cypraea mauritiana Linnaeus. Nuuuli, Tutuila Island ; Ofu, Ofu

Island ; Tau Island.

Cypraea moneta Linnaeus. Nuuuli, Tutuila Island; Ofu, Ofu

Island ; Tau Island.

Cypraea nucleus Linnaeus. Tau Island.

Cypraea obvellata Lamarck. Tau Island.

1 Ingram, W. M. Cypraeidae from Guam, The Nautilus, Vol. 52, 1938.

2 Ingram, W. M. The Family Cypraeidae in the Hawaiian Islands, The

Nautilus, Vol. 50, 1937.

3 Ingram, W. M. Cypraeidae from Christmas, Palmyra, Washington, and

Fanning Islands.

January, 1939] the nautilus 105

Cypraea poraria Linnaeus. Of u, Ofu Island ; Tau Island.

Cypraea punctata Linnaeus. Tau Island.

Cypraea reticulata Martyn. Ofu, Ofu Island.

Cypraea scurra Chemnitz. Tau Island.

Cypraea talpa Linnaeus. Nuuuli, Tutuila Island ; Tau Island.

Cypraea testudinaria Linnaeus. Pago Pago, Tutuila Island ; Tau

Island.

Cypraea tigris Linnaeus. Nuuuli, Tutuila Island; Ofu, Ofu

Island ; Tau Island.

Cypraea ventriculus Lamarck. Fagaitua, Tutuila Island; Ofu,

Ofu Island.

Cypraea vitellus Linnaeus. Ofu, Ofu Island.

Species from Palmyra Island

At this time the writer has additions to make to the Cypraeidae

fauna of Palmyra Island.4 Mr. David Thaanum of Honolulu has

informed me that he collected Cypraea arabica L. and Cypraea

clandestina Linnaeus at Palmyra Island. Cypraea cribraria L.

and Cypraea goodalli Gray are also to be added to the cowries

occuring at Palmyra Island. The former species is housed in the

Bernice P. Bishop Museum collection in Honolulu, and the latter

is in the writer's collection. The occurrence of Cypraea goodalli

Gray at Palmyra Island is a new record in the distribution of this

species, and extends its reported range north of the equator to 5°

52' North Latitude. This species has been reported by Garrett

from the Cook, Society, and Tuamotu Archipelagos,5 and by Hed-

ley from the Ellice and Gilbert Islands.6

NOTES AND NEWS

Oreohelix eurekensis uinta is a new form found by Mr. E. R.

Eller during his exploration of 1933 on Hominy Creek, R. 1 W., T.

3 S., 3 miles north Uinta Special Meridian, near Whiterocks, Uinta

Co., Utah. It resembles 0. eurekensis Henderson and Daniels

closely in shape, texture, color and sculpture but differs by the

somewhat wider umbilicus, contained about 3f times in the diame-

4 Ingram, W. M. Cypraeidae from Christmas, Palmyra, Washington, and

Fanning Islands, The Nautilus, "Vol. 51, 1937.

s Garrett, A. Journal of Conchology, ii, p. 106, 1879.

e Hedley, C. The Mollusca of Funafuti, Pt. 1, Memoirs of Australian Mu-

seum, p. 450, 1899.

106 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

ter of shell. Height 8 mm., diam. 4.2 mm., 4| whorls. Type in

coll. Carnegie Mus., paratype in coll. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philadelphia.

This race is so similar to that found by Henderson and Daniels

near Eureka, about 125 miles south of west from "Whiterocks, that

it would hardly be thought distinguishable if it were not in a dif-

ferent mountain system. No Oreohelix has been reported before

from the Uinta Mountains. I am indebted to Dr. Pilsbry for

directing attention to its relations. — Stanley T. Brooks.

Dr. Joshua Baily has been appointed Research Associate in

Land Mollusks at the San Diego Museum of Natural History.

Mr. Gordon M. Kutchka, Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, is to

be known hereafter as Gordon K. MacMillan.

Original Copies of Say's "American Conchology." — In Mr.

Wheeler 's account of Say 's American Conchology in the last four

numbers of The Nautilus he records twenty-six copies existing

in American libraries. Another copy may be added to these.

The library of the University of Illinois contains a bound copy

of the seven parts and the title pages, the covers being bound in

the back. It is complete with 240 unnumbered pages and 68

colored plates. The parts are bound by numbers consecutively,

I to VII. The Glossary, however, is missing. This copy was

originally purchased by the old State Laboratory of Natural His-

tory, now the Illinois State Natural History Survey, by the Di-

rector, Dr. S. A. Forbes. There is no date of purchase known

for this volume but it must have been in the period between 1880

and 1890. Its source is not known. — Frank C. Baker.

An Observation on Bulimnea megasoma (Say). — This large

lymnaeid is common in sheltered bays of Lake Temagami, prov-

ince of Ontario. In collecting a large lot at Bear Island, August

22, 1938, the following notes were made :

Young snails up to a shell size of about one inch have a lustrous

blackish green un-pitted shell completely coated with a clear jelly

of i to 1 mm. thickness. The mature snails of a shell length of

1^ inches completely lack this jelly covering. Their shells are a

lighter olive brown colour and pitted with whitish "erosions,"

rendering them conspicuous in the water. In contrast the young

January, 1939] the nautilus 107

snails are easily mistaken for a knob of wood. The jelly on the

latter 's shell sometimes holds detritus particles stirred up from

the bottom.

To judge by the size of the shell, this slimy covering persists

only for the first season of the animal's life. It appears to pro-

tect the shell from pitting. At the same time it may render the

young snail more inconspicuous than the mature snail to preda-

tors. Query: "What enemies other than field conchologists, has

B. megasoma?

Some young specimens were carried back to Toronto. They

have been kept in a small aquarium for two weeks now, but have

no gelatinous coat. — John Oughton, Royal Ontario Museum of

Zoology.

Ostrea virginica Gmelin from Cape Breton Island. — Through

the kindness of Mr. G. B. Fairchild, a small series of this species

was collected at Baddeck. The specimens are of interest because

of their large size.

Length Width Thickness

Weight of

shells

21 cm. 11.0 cm. 5.0 cm. 516 g.

20 cm. 12.0 cm. 5.5 cm. 776 g.

22 cm. 9.5 cm. 5.5 cm. 501 g.

15 cm. 10.0 cm. 5.0 cm. 363 g.

They occurred on a mud bottom in four to six feet of water in

an area of very little tide. The hinge area and fully half of the

shell remained buried in the mud. The shells are remarkably

soft and chalky, a fact possibly due to the habitat conditions

under which they live. Mr. Fairchild remarked that eight people

managed a very successful meal of fried oysters from an even

dozen of these big fellows. — R. A. McLean.

The Oliver P. Emerson Collection of Achatinellidae. —

By bequest of the late Rev. Oliver P. Emerson, his very valuable

and important collection of Achatinellidae has become the prop-

erty of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. This collection is

in beautiful condition, with full locality data and long series of

the individual species. Many of these could not be duplicated,

owing to the changed conditions in the Hawaiian Islands, as

108 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (3)

much of the territory from which these shells came has been

cultivated and the original forest growth destroyed. The col-

lection consists of nearly 1000 lots, the majority coming from

the Island of Oahu. — W. J. Clench.

Helix nemoralis L. at Warm Springs, Va. — Through the

kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Norman White, Jr., a small set of

Helix nemoralis was received that they had collected this August

at Warm Springs, Virginia. These were collected about Vi mile

south of the town. The colony occupied an area of about *4

mile and it was reported that this species had first been noticed

about 4 years ago. They may have been introduced from the old

colony at Lexington, Va., specimens of which were introduced

into Knoxville, Tenn., and reported upon by M. D. Barber (Naut.

31, p. 107, 1918).— W. J. Clench.

Discus rotundata (Mull.) in Massachusetts. — This species

has been found in abundance around an old car barn in Dor-

chester, Mass., by Harry K. Clench. The species occurs through-

out western Europe, and evidently has been introduced here

recently, as it is very localized. In general appearance the shell

is similar to our Discus c. catskillensis, except that the European

species has distinct radial markings or bands above the periph-

ery. Comparisons were made between European specimens in

the collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology and with

the excellent figures in Taylor's Monograph of the Land and

Freshwater Mollusca of the British Isles (3, pp. 180-193, pi. 19).

— W. J. Clench and G. Banks.

Cyphoma mcgintyi, new species. — The shell is long and nar-

row, with a high median ridge. Back cinnamon-buff to ivory

yellow, the marginal callus white or ivory yellow, more defi-

nitely limited than in C. gibbosa, with an oblique fold from the

inner lip across the front, posteriorly, more or less lost in the

callous thickening. Interior vinaceous with a white median spot.

Mantle closely spotted. Length 23.7 mm., width 11.4 mm. On

a gorgonian in 4 or 5 ft., south of Boynton Inlet of Lake Worth,

Florida. This will be figured in a review of the group in next

Nautilus. — H. A. Pilsbry.

The nautilus

Vol. 52 April, 1939 No. 4

TEREBRA FLAMMEA LAMARCK. A NEW RECORD

FOR THE UNITED STATES

BY TOM L. McGINTY

On June 7, 1938, the writer took an unbelievably large Terebra

in Lake Worth near the South Inlet, Boynton, Palm Beach

County, Florida. The specimen is in excellent condition, the

mollusk having so recently died as to leave traces of occupancy.

The shell was found in about five feet of water on a mixed bot-

tom of shell and sand. The writer believes that this Terebra is

an off shore mollusk having been washed into the Lake through

the Inlet by the incoming tides probably in the juvenile stage.

Singularly enough the Lake Worth specimen was collected only

a short time after it was reported from Puerto Plata, Dominican

Republic by William J. Clench. See Nautilus, April, 1938, for

figures of specimens from China and Dominican Republic. The

writer has never before seen or heard of even a recognizable

fragment of this Terebra being found in Florida.

The Lake Worth specimen in the McGinty collection measures

143 mm. in length with 20 whorls as found but with the decol-

late portion calculated would measure 154 mm. in length with

30 whorls. This specimen is somewhat larger than those figured

in the April issue of the Nautilus.

A second and larger living specimen of this Terebra was taken

by Paul L. McGinty on July 17 under the same conditions in

Lake Worth at the south inlet, Boynton. This specimen is not

decollate, measures 164 mm. and has the same number of whorls

as the example described above, 30. Both specimens appear to

be full grown adults. The mollusk proved to be strictly noctur-

nal, its foot well adapted for plowing, generally completely

buried with only the long white siphon in evidence. The foot

(109)

110 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

of the mollusk is white, lightly streaked above with yellow brown.

The horny operculum is small 13 mm. in length and 6| mm. in

width. Sketches of the living mollusk were made to facilitate

further study.

TWO NEW MARINE SHELLS FROM THE

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS1

BY PAUL BAETSCH

Curator of Mollusks and Cenozoic Invertebrates,

United States National Museum

AND

HAEALD ALFEED EEHDEE

Assistant Curator of Division of Mollusks,

United States National Museum

During the explorations of the Aleutian Islands by the staff of

the United States Biological Survey, a splendid collection of ma-

rine mollusks were obtained. Among them are two new species

which are here described.

Anabathron muriei, new species. Plate 8, fig. 2, 2a.

Shell very minute, elongate-conic, thin, semi-translucent, white.

The nucleus consists of a single, somewhat inflated, well rounded

turn which is slightly obliquely placed. The 2.75 postnuclear

whorls bear a strong spiral keel on the middle of the turns. There

is a second keel on the middle of the base and a third that bounds

the edge of the funnel-shaped umbilicus. In addition to this, the

entire surface of the shell is marked by very fine spiral lirations

and axial incremental threads, which show as a fine reticulation

when seen under high magnification. The umbilicus is broadly

expanded and marked by incremental lines and the fine spiral

lirations mentioned for the spire. Aperture broadly oval, almost

subcircular; peristome slightly thickened. The last whorl is

slightly solute.

The type, U.S.N.M. no. 535345, was obtained from the droppings

of a sea otter at Ogliuga Island, Aleutian Islands. It measures :

Length, 0.8 mm. ; greater diameter, 0.4 mm.

1 Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

THE NAUTILUS : 52 (4)

PLATE 8

1a

X

Ax

1b

2a

Pigs. 1, La, Lb, Liocyma schefferi Bartsch & Behder. Figs. 2, 2a, Anabath-

in muriei B. & R.

April, 1939] the nautilus 111

We take pleasure in naming this interesting little shell for Olaus

J. Murie, the leader of the Biological Survey party.

Anabathron was described in 1867 by Georg Ritter von Frauen-

feld in the Reise der Osterreichischen Fregatte Novara um die

Erde 1857-59, in the part dealing with mollusks on page 13 and

figured on plate 2, figures 28. His specimens were obtained in

Botany Bay, Australia. It is a long cry from the home of the

genotype Anabathron contabulata Frauenfeld to the Aleutian

Islands.

The figures of his specimens and ours are strikingly similar, but

the surface of our individual is marked by the fine lines of growth

and spiral threads, which will easily distinguish it from the

genotype.

The fact that the specimens were obtained from the droppings

of a sea otter does not indicate that the animal feeds upon them.

It is more likely that the little mollusk was associated with some

other food and taken accidentally into the digestive tract of the

mammal.

Liocyma schefferi, new species. Plate 8, fig. 1-lb.

Shell of medium size, broadly rounded, oval ; the posterior end

slightly narrower than the anterior end; not much inflated, in-

equilateral, the umbones somewhat anterior to the middle, moder-

ately prominent. The shell is rather stout, of a cream-buff color

(Ridgway, XXX, 19" d), smooth, shiny, with deep concentric

grooves rather distantly separated ; between these are more or less

obscure, irregular concentric grooves. There is no visible lunule,

and the ligament lies in a long, narrow, lanceolate furrow poste-

rior to the umbones. The hinge consists of three rather divergent

cardinal teeth in each valve. The anterior muscle scars are elon-

gate, slightly flexed, while the posterior ones are suborbieular.

The pallial line is well marked and possesses a shallow sinus.

The type, U.S.N.M. no. 535344, measures: Height, 11.9 mm.;

length, 14.7 mm. ; diameter, 6.4 mm. It and numerous paratypes

were collected by Victor B. Scheffer in 10 fathoms off Chuginadak

Island, Aleutians, Alaska.

It is close to Liocyma viridis Dall, but the sculpture is weaker,

the concentric ridges being fewer and more distantly separated.

112 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

The shell is also broader and the umbones seem to be generally

more centrally located.

This species is named for Mr. Victor B. Scheffer who has col-

lected a large series of mollusks during the last two summers while

a member of the Biological Survey expeditions in the Aleutian

Islands.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF LAND MOLLUSKS OF

ALABAMA FROM THEIR PROBABLE

CENTERS OF ORIGIN

ALLAN F. AECHER

Alabama is a complex area because it contains within its bor-

ders representative portions of six physiographic provinces. Each

of these provinces is characterized by its own peculiar combina-

tion of land forms and geological history. Each of these prov-

inces has its own peculiar flora and fauna.

The nomenclature applied to each of these provinces was first

established by N. M. Fenneman in his Physiographic Divisions of

North America. W. D. Johnston, Jr., has published twice on

these physiographic divisions as applied to Alabama. His second

paper is entitled A Revision of the Physical Divisions of Northern

Alabama, and was published in 1932 in the Journal of the Wash-

ington Academy of Sciences. Both he and Fenneman recognize

only five physiographic provinces in Alabama. Fenneman be-

lieved that the Blue Ridge Province does not extend beyond the

Coosa River in north Georgia. That would automatically include

all the area which I am calling Blue Ridge in the Piedmont High-

lands. However, it is the opinion of W. B. Jones, of the Alabama

Geological Survey, R. M. Harper, and myself that this is a mis-

take. The topography and geological history of the doubtful area

seems to justify the extension of the Blue Ridge to include the old

montane crystalline area of Alabama. Dr. Harper recognizes this

area as botanically justified in his monograph entitled Economic

Botany of Alabama, Geological Survey of Alabama, 1913.

On the map I have outlined the following provinces :

April, 1939]

THE NAUTILUS

113

Fig. 1. The distribution of Alabama Land Mollusks from their probable

centers of origin, with special reference to the origin of the Fauna of the

Coastal Plain.

114 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

1. Coastal Plain

2. Piedmont Highlands

3. Bine Ridge Province

4. Appalachian Valley

5. Cumberland Plateau

6. Highland Rim

The Highland Rim is merely a special area of Fenneman's Inte-

rior Low Plateaus. The Cumberland Plateau is only a southern

division of the Appalachian Plateaus.

The Gulf Coastal Plain has been the avenue for the migration

of special elements. The prairie and cedar glade fauna contains

elements that probably had their origins in the Mexican High-

lands. The Mississippi Valley elements present a special com-

plex, and are more closely related to the fauna of the Interior

Lowlands of the Midwest than to that of the eastern Gulf Coast.

The region of north Florida is a special area of endemics whose

remote ancestors were probably derived from the Texan-Mexican

complex. This study is of special interest because the Coastal

Plain is a recent land area whose fauna is mostly derived from

the old land areas, in spite of the endemism that has occurred in

north Florida.

The following facts stand out :

1. The highest degree of endemism in the Alabama fauna is

found in the Cumberland Plateau with twenty species, only part

of which occur outside of the area. The Coastal Plain follows

with twelve species. The Blue Ridge comes next with seven

species. The other divisions have much smaller numbers to their

credit within the limits of Alabama.

2. The Highland Rim has much in common with the Cumber-

land Plateau, but lacks endemics.

3. The Highland Rim and the Mississippi Valley have con-

tributed species to only limited areas.

4. The Appalachian Valley has a fauna similar to that of the

Cumberland Plateau, but lacks endemics, and has made only

minor contributions to other areas.

5. Species of Blue Ridge origin have either migrated into the

west-central part of the Coastal Plain, or have penetrated into the

April, 1939] the nautilus 115

Cumberland Plateau. In both cases their route of migration was

by way of the terminus of the Appalachian Valley and the south-

western edge of the Cumberland Plateau, never penetrating far

into it, but arriving finally in the Highland Rim.

6. The Cumberland Plateau has been the major contributor to

the fauna of the western half of the Coastal Plain.

7. The Piedmont Highlands have been the major contributor

to the fauna of the eastern and central portions of the Coastal

Plain. One Piedmont species (Polygyra maxillata) has spread

great distances into the western part of the Coastal Plain, appar-

ently by following the river valleys.

8. The Floridian area has contributed several species to the

upper edge of the central Coastal Plain area. This contribution

is small, and probably followed both the swamp forests and the

prairies.

9. Species of Mexican affinities (Helicina orbiculata, Bulimulus

dealbatus) have come in both by way of the prairies and by the

red cedar thickets, possibly migrating along the north end of the

Mississippi embayment of the Tertiary from the Ozark Plateaus.

NOTES ON STEPHANODA PAT AGONIC A (SUTER)

AND THE GENUS RADIODISCUS, WITH A NEW

NAME FOR R. PATAGONICUS PILSBRY

BY G. I. CEAWFOED

Assistant Keeper at the British Museum (Natural History)

Three of the original specimens of Stephanoda patagonica

(Suter, 1900, p. 334, as Pyramidula) from a modern deposit at

Santa Cruz, Patagonia, are in the collections of the Philadelphia

Academy and one is in the British Museum (1900.7.5.9). Pils-

bry (1900, p. 387) followed Suter in saying that the apical 1£

whorls of the Philadelphia specimens were smooth, but added

(1911) that this was the result of their worn condition, and iden-

tified with them some specimens from the Rio Chico, the nepionic

whorls of which had spiral sculpture, but no transverse riblets.

On examination I found that the specimen of Suter 's species in

the British Museum had well marked transverse ribs on the nepi-

onic whorls. At my request Dr. Pilsbry kindly reexamined his

116 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

specimens, and wrote to point ont to me that they had not only-

transverse ribs but also a very fine spiral sculpture, visible only

with a high magnification and overlooked at my first examination.

The apical 1| whorls of the British Museum specimen are sculp-

tured with low, blunt radial riblets, which do not differ markedly

from the riblets of the post-embryonic whorls. These radial rib-

lets are crossed by about 20 very fine raised spiral lines, which also

continue faintly on the post-embryonic whorls.

Radiodiscus is defined by Pilsbry in Pilsbry and Ferriss (1906,

p. 154) as having no transverse riblets on the nepionic whorls, and

Pilsbry (1911) restricts the genus Stephanoda to include only

species with no spiral sculpture on these whorls. In S. pata-

gonica the spiral sculpture is much less well-marked than the

transverse, and I therefore consider it to be a Stephanoda as far

as our present knowledge goes. It is likely that several species

supposed to have no spiral nepionic sculpture will be found under

magnifications of 60 or 100, to be marked with extremely fine

inconspicuous spiral ribs or grooves.

The specimens from the Rio Chico, which are true Radiodiscus

and lack the transverse ribs of the nepionic whorl, must be given

a new name, and, with Dr. Pilsbry 's approval, I suggest that they

be renamed Radiodiscus riochicoensis nom. nov., the type being the

specimen figured by Pilsbry (1911, p. 517, pi. 42, f. 1, la, lb).

This is No. 88807 in the collections of the Academy of Natural

Sciences, Philadelphia.

In the hopes that it will assist the study of these difficult genera

I re-describe here the sculpture of type specimens of two Magel-

lanic species, as seen under a monocular magnification of 90.

Radiodiscus magellanicus Smith (1881, p. 36) (B.M. 79.10.15.

93), nepionic 1^ whorls engraved with about 20 fine spiral lines

crossing broad, low, extremely ill-defined transverse undulations :

post-embryonic whorls with high and narrow transverse riblets,

with 3 or 4 very fine low secondary riblets between each pair : no

post-embryonic spiral sculpture.

R. coppingeri Smith (1881, p. 36) (B.M. 79.10.15.92), nepi-

onic li whorls with 14 or 15 well marked spiral riblets, crossing

undulations similar to those of R. magellanica: post-embryonic

whorls with high, fairly broad riblets, and no secondary riblets;

April, 1939] the nautilus 117

the spiral sculpture persists as distinctly raised lines, finer than

on the embryonic whorls.

List of References

Piusbry, H. A., 1900, Poc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., pp. 385-394.

Pilsbry, H. A., 1911, Princeton Expedition to Patagonia, 3(2),

pp. 513-633.

Pilsbry, H. A., and Ferriss, J., 1906, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila.,

58, pp. 123-175.

Smith, A. E., 1881, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., pp. 22-44.

Suter, H., 1900, Rev. Mus. Paul., pp. 329-339.

ATYS SEMISTRIATA PEASE IN KANEOHOE BAY,

OAHU, HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

WILLIAM MAECUS INGRAM

Zoology Laboratory, Cornell University

As well as the writer has been able to determine there is no

account in the literature of the body parts of Atys semistriata

Pease, nor of the conditions under which this species lives. Dr.

Henry A. Pilsbry states, "Very little is known of the ecology of

Hawaiian Tectibranchs. Collectors of living specimens should

note their stations and such conditions as can be observed. ' n At

this time the writer has additions to make to the literature con-

cerning the external body parts, and the ecology of this species of

Hawaiian Tectibranch.

During the years 1935-1937 the writer worked in conjunction

with Dr. Charles Howard Edmondson of the University of Hawaii

and the Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, in making a sur-

vey of the fouling organisms in Kaneohoe Bay, Oahu.2 During

these years eight individuals of Atys semistriata Pease were col-

lected approximately 400 yards from the shore of the Territorial

Fish and Game Farm in Kaneohoe Bay at a depth of half a

fathom. Data concerning these individuals together with other

i Pilsbry, H. A., Marine Mollusks of Hawaii — XIV, XV, Proc. Acad. Nat.

Sci., p. 360, 1920.

2 Edmondson, C. H., and W. M. Ingram, Fouling Organisms in Hawaii,

Occas. Papers, Bernice P. Bishop Museum, pp. 251-300, Vol. XIV, No. 14,

Jan., 1939.

118 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

mollusca that were associated with the fouling organism masses

on submerged panels are included here.

The eight individuals of Atys semistriata collected were asso-

ciated with the ectoproctan bryozoan, Bugula neritina Linnaeus.

They were confined to this bryozoan, and were possibly feeding

upon it or using its branches as clutch for their eggs. These

specimens were transferred to the Waikiki laboratory and kept in

a container filled with Bugula, and supplied by fresh sea-water.

During the time they were confined to the container two globular

egg masses were deposited amongst the branches of this bryozoan.

These masses have an apparently thick outer covering of a gelati-

nous substance, the eggs being confined to the center of the mass.

The eggs are white in color, and the mass is translucent.

A number of mollusks that often frequent habitats offered by

masses of attached organisms were collected in association with

this tectibranch species. The most common gastropod forms gath-

ered in such a community were : Peristerina chlorostoma Sowerby,

Crepidula aculeata Gmelin, Triforis incisus Pease, Melanella

aciculata Pease, and Littorina scabra Linnaeus. Teredo parksi

Bartsch, the destructive marine borer, was also commonly found

in the panels used in the above mentioned fouling organism study.

A member of the family Mytilidae, Musculus oahuus Bartsch,

was reported by Edmondson and Ingram as occurring commonly

in the fouling organism mass.3 This species was very often found

attached to or buried in the tunic of ascidians. The above writers

believe that its relationship with ascidians is that of a commensal.

Other Pelycopoda that were considered to be fouling organisms

of importance associated with Atys semistriata were Ostrea

thaanumi Dall, Bartsch & Rehder, and Pinctada nebulosa. The

former of these species was proven to be one of the important

"foulers" in the Kaneohoe Bay area.4

Atys semistriata Pease.

The external body parts: Body blotched irregularly with pink-

ish spots ; these color spots are confined to three zones : anterior,

medial, and posterior, with a non-pigmented band between each

3 Edmondson, C. H., and W. M. Ingram, op. cit.

* Edmondson, C. H., and W. M. Ingram, op. cit.

April, 1939] the nautilus 119

zone. These color zones run laterally, and are clearly visible

throughout the translucent dorsal convexity of the shell. The

eye spots are dorsally located close to the mid-dorsal line. The

anterior body region is sprinkled profusely with minute pigment

granules. The foot is quite long in the expanded condition and is

lanceolate. The animal is capable of drawing its entire body

within the aperture of the shell.

The shell: The shell is widely umbilicate, oval; color grayish-

white, transparent; shell thin with sculpture of engraved encir-

cling grooves ; these do not begin from a common center, but run

from the inner columella surface, maintaining the same distance

apart throughout their length, and form an undulating pattern

on the outer lip; the impressed grooves are deeply rounded, and

form a broad concave surface at the bottom of the impression;

anterior impressed grooves cover three-eighths of the dorsal sur-

face; medial two-eighths of the dorsal surface without grooves;

posterior three-eighths grooved; number of impressed grooves

vary with the individual; the number of impressed grooves for

the eight individuals are in the following table :

Individuals :

Number of anterior grooves:

Number of posterior grooves :

The vertex has a deep concavity about the posterior axis ; axial

fold high and steep ; aperture narrowly rounded posteriorly ; the

canal is broad and flanges slightly dorsally ; outer lip rounded and

continuous from the anterior canal to the posterior columella ex-

tremity; anterior columella region narrow; widest portion of

columella is at the middle.

All of the individuals upon which the above description is based

were about 8 mm. in total shell length, the greatest total width

being about one-half of the shell length.

The reported distribution of this species in the Hawaiian

Islands is as follows : Kauai : Hanalei River and Haena. Oahu :

Waikiki Beach, Kahala, Waimanalu, and Kaneohoe Bay. Maui :

Kahului dunes. Kahoolawe. The above distribution records

with the exception of the Kaneohoe Bay report were made by

Pilsbry.5

Six species belonging to the genus Atys have been reported from

the Hawaiian Islands. Of these species two subspecies of semi-

striata Pease are recognized: Atys kuhnsi Pilsbry, Atys semi-

s Pilsbry, H. A., op. cit., publication, p. 365.

120 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

striata Pease, Atys semistriata mua Pilsbry, Atys semistriata

fordinsulae Pilsbry, Atys kekele Pilsbry, Atys debilis Pease, Atys

costulosa Pease, and Atys cornuta Pilsbry. Of these species Atys

kekele Pilsbry was described from the fossil state. In the descrip-

tion of this species Pilsbry states:6 "Only found fossil in earth

dug out of the taro field probably Pleistocene. It is related to A.

cylindrica (Helbl.), but in the present species the upper part of

the aperture is narrower, the excavation of the summit deeper

with angular margin ; the base is more effuse, and the columellar

callus is more raised, the groove bounding it being wider. Oahu :

on taro patch embankment west of Oahu railroad, about a half

mile west of Waipahu station, Pilsbry, 1913. Type 116610

A.N. S. P."

A NEW FOSSIL COWRY FROM NORTH CAROLINA

WILLIAM MAECUS INGRAM

Zoology Laboratory, Cornell University

The cowry described here was collected by the late Joseph Will-

cox along the Cape Fear River, North Carolina. Its geological

age is Miocene.

The two specimens upon which the following description is

based were lent to the writer for description by Dr. Benjamin F.

Howell of The Academy of Natural Sciences and of Princeton

University.

The holotype and paratype specimens are so designated under

number 781 of the invertebrate paleontological collection of The

Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia.

The cowry is named for Dr. Henry A. Pilsbry, Curator of the

Department of Mollusca, The Academy of Natural Sciences,

Philadelphia.

Cypraea pilsbryi n. sp., pi. 9, fig. 2.

Shell broadly ovate; spire obscured; anterior and posterior

s Pilsbry, H. A., op. cit., publication, p. 366.

April, 1939] the nautilus 121

canals produced but slightly; anterior canal of holotype 2 mm.

broad, of paratype 2.25 mm. broad; posterior canal of holotype

2.10 mm. broad, of paratype 3 mm. broad ; shell on columellar and

outer lip sides of anterior canal flanged ; the columellar flange of

the holotype is 2.90 mm. broad, of the paratype 3.50 mm. broad ;

the outer lip flange of the holotype is 2 mm. broad, of the paratype

2.50 mm. ; outer lip side of posterior canal more produced than

columellar lip side, especially in the paratype ; slight indications

of a depressed groove exist dorsally on either side of the anterior

canal; posterior canal notch deep, about 2.50 mm. on holotype,

and 3.5 mm. on paratype; base rounded at point of maximum

width of columella, base flat or nearly so from this point to ante-

rior canal extremity ; outer lip side of base but slightly rounded,

nearly flat in the paratype, and slightly more rounded in the holo-

type ; aperture very wide anteriorly, about 4.75 mm. at point of

maximum width in the holotype, and about 5.25 mm. in the para-

type ; aperture curved to the left both anteriorly and posteriorly ;

columella teeth nearly lacking, 5 obscure ones, located in the ante-

rior canal region, are present in the paratype, 4 others are present

posteriorly that are very indistinct ; in holotype only 4 columella

teeth are present in the anterior canal region; in both holotype

and paratype the anterior 2 columella teeth are closer together

than are the others ; columella teeth are more in shape of nodules

than raised ridges ; outer lip ones in type are prominent, the ante-

rior teeth are the most delicate, becoming coarser toward the mid-

dle region of the outer lip (this applies to the paratype also) ;

outer lip teeth extend for a short distance over the base of the

shell ; interstices between the columella teeth are nearly flat, and

are broad; interstices between the outer lip teeth range in width

from .90 mm. to 1.10 mm.

Measurements of holotype : Maximum length 27 mm. ; maximum

width 18 mm. ; maximum height 15 mm.

Measurements of paratype : Maximum length 32.10 mm. ; maxi-

mum width 22 mm. ; maximum height 17.50 mm.

This species is most closely allied to Cypraea carolinensis

Conrad.

The writer wishes to thank Mr. CD. West, of the Department

of Zoology of Cornell University, for photographing the type

specimen.

122 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

A NEW COWRY CYPRAEA JENSOSTERGAARDI

WILLIAM MARCUS INGRAM

Department of Zoology, Cornell University

The writer has been able to obtain only one specimen of this

small species. It was collected by Mr. M. Nakamura in the living

state in the waters about Koror Island, Palau Group, Caroline

Islands, and was sent to the writer through the courtesy of Mr.

Yoshio Kondo of the Department of Conchology of the Bernice

P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu.

This species is named for Mr. Jens Mathias Ostergaard of the

Department of Zoology of the University of Hawaii, who has long

been an inspiring teacher and an enthusiastic student of the

Cypraeidae.

CYPRAEA JENSOSTERGAARDI 11. Sp. PI. 9, figS. 3.

Shell characteristics: Shell obovate, light; abrupt slope from

point of maximum height of shell to posterior canal, gradual slope

to anterior canal ; just dorsal to projection of posterior canal, shell

is deeply umbilicate to such an extent that a shelf is present over

the slight projection of the posterior canal ; anterior canal projects

slightly, leaving an impressed groove on the lateral shell margin

on the left for a distance of about 3 mm., an impressed groove is

also found on the right lateral margin of the shell extending pos-

teriorly for about 5 mm. ; a shelf of about 1 mm. broad is present

over the anterior canal ; posterior canal is curved to the left, and

is about 1.10 mm. broad ; anterior canal but slightly curved to the

left, and about 1.75 mm. broad; base rounded; aperture curved

to the left posteriorly, straight anteriorly; aperture narrowest

posteriorly, about 1 mm. broad, widest anteriorly, about 2 mm.

broad ; columellar teeth extend over base about 1 mm. ; columellar

teeth on base are very narrow, and end on columella in knob-like

projections; columellar teeth do not extend into aperture on

columella ; interstices between columellar teeth broad, slightly con-

cave, and equal in width ; outer lip teeth broader than columellar

teeth, and form slight rounded ridges for a distance of about .75

mm. over base ; interstices between outer lip teeth equal, broad,

and slightly concave.

Color characteristics : Dorsal surface light brownish-ivory with

unequal light brown spots scattered over surface, two unequal

light brown blotches occupy center of dorsum; lateral margins

THE NAUTILUS : 52 (4)

PLATE 9

1b

uan

Figs. 1, la, Lb, Lamellaria sharoni Willett. Figs. 2, 2a, 2b, Cypraea pilsbryi

Ingram. Figs. 3, 3a, 3b, Cypraea j< nsostergaardi Ingram.

April, 1939] the nautilus 123

light brownish-ivory with scattered unequal light brown spots;

base ivory-white with nearly obscured sparsely scattered light

brown unequal spots; columella ivory-white with three unequal

light brown spots on point of maximum width; interior of shell

ivory-white. Interstices between the teeth are white. No mantle

line is visible on the dorsal surface.

Measurements : Greatest length 17.25 mm. ; greatest width 10

mm. ; greatest height 9 mm.

The holotype specimen is numbered 1114 in the writer's collec-

tion. I wish to thank Mr. CD. West of the Department of Zool-

ogy of Cornell University for taking the photographs of the type.

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW MOLLUSK FROM

CALIFORNIA

BY G. WILLETT

On several occasions during the past two years, Mrs. Rubie E.

Sharon, of Hermosa Beach, California, has brought in specimens

of a small mollusk with internal shell which she had collected at

Anaheim Bay, Orange County. Two specimens of the same

species, collected in Newport Bay, were also shown me by Mr. and

Mrs. E. P. Chace. Recently, at my request, Mrs. Sharon brought

in two living examples, one of which was photographed, then

cleaned, and the other preserved as an alcoholic specimen. I am

unable to refer them to any described species ; therefore, they may

be known as

Lamellaria sharonl, sp. nov. PI. 9, figs. 1, la, lb.

Description. — Shell fragile, entirely internal, naticoid, inoper-

culate, imperforate ; white, covered with a very thin, light pinkish

epidermis. Aperture rounded below, the outer lip and columella

merging to form three-fourths of an almost perfect circle. Outer

lip thin, meeting the body whorl at an acute angle. Columella

light brown, thin, regularly curved, with a shallow groove between

it and the body whorl. Surface of shell marked by irregular

growth lines and very fine spiral striations. Shell higher than

wide, about the shape of some specimens of Polinices alius Dall,

though very much smaller. Measurements of shell : Max. diam.,

5.5 ; min. diam., 4.9 ; alt., 7.4 mm. : Aperture, alt., 6 ; diam., 4.3

mm.

124 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

Mantle of animal completely covering shell, roughly papillose,

vinaceous rufous above, somewhat lighter below. In the center

of the mantle, above, is a rather poorly defined hexagonal, flattish

area, the diameter of which is about one-fourth the length of the

animal. From each of the six angles of the central area a poorly

defined ridge runs to the lower part of the mantle, each ridge

being ornamented with from one to three dusky spots ; also in the

middle of the central area, and in each of the six areas between

the ridges is a single black spot (Fig. lb).

Type, No. 1059 Los Angeles Museum, collected by Mrs. Rubie

E. Sharon among marine vegetation at extreme low tide, at Ana-

heim Bay, Orange County, California, January 6, 1939. Para-

types in collections of Mrs. Sharon, and Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Chace.

An additional alcoholic specimen in the Los Angeles Museum.

The naticoid form of this shell at once distinguishes it from

Lamellaria stearnsi, diegensis, rhombica, or digueti, as well as

from any other species of the group known to the writer. Of the

subgenera usually placed under Lamellaria, it is probably closest

to Marsenina or Coriocella in shell characters. The mantle, how-

ever, is not fissured.

ASPECTS OF DEPAUPERIZATION

BY CALVIN GOODEICH

Depauperization as it is understood by malacologists is the

outward manifestation of disease, accident or malnutrition or a

reaction to inimical environment. It affects individual mollusks

fairly frequently, but also it sometimes involves whole colonies

and races. It is so common a phenomenon that authors usually

have been content with merely mentioning it as an observation or,

going farther, registering it by such a specific or subspecific name

as paupercuhim. But what may be termed the symptoms of

depauperization have not been defined so far as the writer can

discover. It is intended here to mention those signs, indications

or marks of it that have come to his attention.

The most obvious symptom is dwarfing. In the sandy regions

of eastern Michigan is a form of Polygyra albolabris to which the

varietal name maritima is commonly given. Outside of the damp

April, 1939] the nautilus 125

ravines and river banks, it is the only form of the species occurring

in the areas. It is sometimes surprisingly small. Rain in the

districts has a rapid run-off. Upland woods become exceedingly

dry by mid-summer. So on top of hibernation, a fairly long

aestivation is imposed on the snails. Lack of moisture circum-

scribes the season of activity and that, it would seem, brings about

a reduction of whorl size. The same kind of hardship is experi-

enced by Aplexa hynorum and Lymnaea palustris that occupy

woods pools. They appear invariably to be smaller than the same

species in brooks and ponds. The water of one woods pool of

which I kept watch one spring lasted for only six weeks. Late

in the year, living mollusks were dug from the mud that lay under

the hard crust. It may be that the comparatively small size and

thinness of Sphaerium occidentale are due to living in pools and

ditches that dry up with the rise of atmospheric temperature. At

the other extreme so far as habitat is concerned are those species

of Pisidium that manage to maintain existence in the bottoms of

lakes which for days or weeks contain no free oxygen. Such

species of these that have been seen are small even for a genus

of small bivalves. A robust form of Lithasia obovata sordida lives

in Calfkiller River, White County, Tennessee. Above the town

of Sparta and about a hundred feet from the river is a torrent of

water called Wildcat Spring. It is occupied by a phase of sordida

scarcely half the size of the stream form. A rarer mollusk of the

spring is Goniobasis edgariana. It, too, is dwarfed. Those moun-

tain-climbers Goniobasis proximo, and aterina are possibly only

stunted phases of lowland species, living under much harder con-

ditions than the latter. Both have been seen in situations beyond

the heavy currents of hill brooks, but where the spray fell. In

the Great Lakes are dwarfed aspects of Lampsilis, Elliptio,

Lasmigona, Ligumia, Quadrula and Obovaria which have been

provided with distinctive names mainly because of their small

size. Brown, Clark and Gleissner (1938) have shown that com-

plete intergradations occur between the lake shells and shells of

the same species inhabiting streams nearby. They conclude that

"The degree of stunting in Lake Erie for all species studied is

definitely correlated with the degree of exposure found in the

habitats. The more stunted individuals were found in the more

126 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

exposed lake habitats." The instances cited can be taken as

examples of depauperization for which severe or rigorous condi-

tions of environment are responsible. But dwarfing does occur,

of course, among individuals of colonies most of the members

of which can be rated as of normal size. Here other factors have

acted as checks to growth. The under-developed or abnormal

radula that is seen once in awhile is a clue to such an agency.

S. G. Rich (1915) records finding Elliptio complanatus in a

pond of a granitic area of Maine the specimens of which are

remarkable for the lack of nacreous material. "When fresh the

shells are horny and somewhat flexible, not unlike two layers of

parchment pasted together, in texture. Alcoholic material and

fresh are alike easily cut with a small shears, and there is no

cracking." The measurements he gives conform with those of

lake-inhabiting complanatus. No abnormalities of soft parts were

observable, but the shape was not that common to the species. The

case is perhaps more interesting as evidence of adaptability than

as sign of depauperization, yet any departure from a normal state

sets up a threat to extinction which is the main element involving

depauperization. Margaritana margaritifera has offset the low

percentage of calcium carbonate of the waters it inhabits by under-

going exceedingly slow growth rather than by normal growth and

dependence on the epidermis as a substitute for shell material.

That the Maine E. complanatus found by Rich has not done the

same thing argues that this colony has not been long in its loca-

tion. In Vitrinizonites latissimus, we have a land mollusk that

nourishes without the usual buttressing of the epidermis. While

it can hardly be called depauperate, its distribution is checked

very much as if it were. Plainly, a mollusk may waver upon the

border between successful adaptation and extinction through loss

of some component or function which is common to its class.

In Goniobasis, very loose coiling appears to be a sign of de-

pauperization. G. acutocarinata, although described as a species,

has not been found in pure colonies. Lea, its author, had only one

specimen. The shell occurs as a rare variant among G. clavae-

formis in springs and spring branches of East Tennessee. An-

thony's Melania pagodiformis, synonymized with acutocarinata

by Tryon, came from Battle Creek, a tributary of the Tennessee

April, 1939] the nautilus 127

River west of Chattanooga. Anthony obtained, he indicates,

several specimens. The creek has been collected in by H. H.

Smith, Henry van der Schalie and, on two occasions, myself.

None of us obtained shells of the sort. M. pagodiformis is to be

considered an aberrant as is also M. torulosa, another Anthony

species of the kind. It was named from one example. The

common form of Lymnaea obrnssa in Menominee County, Mich-

igan, is exigua. It is very loosely coiled, and sometimes to such

an extent as to seem deformed. It lacks the robust look of obrussa

typical. In instances of loose coiling in Pleurocera alveare, the

aperture is very small, showing that the animal itself has been

small, and in all likelihood in poor physical condition.

If the aberrant occurrence of loose coiling in freshwater gastro-

pods suggests depauperization, it cannot be said to do so in the

case of land shells, or at least some of them. Anguispira alternata

of Lake Erie and Detroit River islands is high compared with

diameter, the newer whorls dropping below the plane of the older

whorls. In these localities, the species lives in the open — the

moisture being sufficient to relieve the snails of the necessity of

seeking shelter under logs and stones. New growth, therefore,

is not made in circumscribed situations wherein tight coiling

would be a measure of space economy.

Certain manifestations of the simplification of shell characters

are akin to depauperization though probably not always true in-

stances of that behavior. The dentate process in Polygyra albo-

labris seems to be present in only the healthiest colonies. It is

mostly eliminated in the subspecies maritima, so far as specimens

at hand show. The spinose forms of Io, the more nodulous forms

of Lithasia and Eurycaelon, and the plicate-striate Goniobasis are,

almost entirely, the inhabitants of large streams. As tributaries

are invaded, the sculpture is reduced or it disappears altogether.

In most cases, it is the plicate, or axial, sculpture which persists

the longest. This seems natural since it is apparently the most

ancient of such characters. Campeloma decampii W. G. Binney

(Paludina spillmanii Lea), occurring in north Alabama, is cari-

nate or striate on one or two early whorls. Very rarely, a faint

keeling, corresponding to this sculpture, shows up among embryos

of the northern C. decisum. There is a harking back in these cases

128 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

to C. multilineata and multistriata of the Cretaceous. Campeloma

has undergone a simplification of shell just as its radula, by every

sign, has deteriorated. The several subspecies of Valvata tricari-

nata represent modifications of the strongly keeled typical tri-

carinata rather than development from simplification to elabora-

tion. In what remains of the original lot of Lithasia plicata

Wetherby, there are smooth shells as well as plicate ones, and

the smooth specimens are not much different from L. obovata of

the upper Kentucky River whence the types of plicata came. The

same sculptured shells appear among smooth forms in small

streams of Tennessee. Of 151 specimens of Goniobasis ebenum

taken in the Cumberland River at Pineville, Bell County, Ken-

tucky, thirteen were found to be plicate. A pure colony of plicate

ebenum occurs in the South Fork of the Cumberland in Wayne

County, Kentucky. The outer lip of mature Goniobasis livescens

of Ohio and Michigan is sinuous, but specimens taken in Niagara

River just above and just below the Falls have straight lips.

Shell simplification is at times carried to such a point that any-

thing definite in the way of character is lost. That is, a shell may

have the features of shells in general, and not much else that a

describing naturalist, if put to it, could swear to. So descriptions

frequently are found to deal merely with size, texture, color and

shape of whorls — characters that are seldom constant even in a

single colony. The steps in such simplification are those observ-

able in depauperization, and I think it might be demonstrated that

the two processes are reflections more or less of each other.

References

S. C. Rich, An Aberrant Ecological Form of Unio Complanatus

Dillwyn. Science, 40, 1915, pp. 579-580.

C. J. D. Brown, Clarence Clark and Bruce Gleissner, The

Size of Certain Naiades from Western Lake Erie in

Relation to Shoal Exposure. Ainer. Midland Naturalist,

19, 1938, pp. 682-701.

April, 1939] the nautilus 129

CERTAIN MOLLUSKS OF THE OGEECHEE RIVER,

GEORGIA

BY CALVIN GOODEICH

Conrad described and figured Paludina genicula in "New Fresh

Water Shells of the United States" (1834) from a single shell

which he found in Flint River, Georgia. He twice mentioned the

angulation of the whorls, and to keep attention upon this fact of

angulation he figured the shell from the back, the position in which

the feature is most pronounced. On top of this, he chose genicula

for specific name, one definition of which is ' ' angulated bend. ' '

W. G. Binney, "Land and Fresh- Water Shells of North Amer-

ica" (1865), threw Conrad's species into the synonymy of

Melantho decisa (Say) on the ground that specimens he had from

the type stream "show a gradual series from the rounded whirls

of the decisa to the angular form of genicida, though none of the

shells were as well marked as that figured."

Dr. Henry van der Schalie made a molluscan survey of the

Ogeechee River of Georgia in 1937. This is a stream paralleling

the Savannah River. It is so worn down to such a grade that a

part of the upper waters runs through swamps and parts of the

middle river expand into areas which locally go by the name of

lakes. The tides are felt well up-stream. The commonest gastro-

pod taken is this mollusk that, if a good species, we would know

now as Campeloma genicidum. Undischarged young are of about

two and a quarter whorls in development. They show no more whorl

shouldering than do the young of C. decisum of the north. But in

young that have been discharged this character makes itself mani-

fest toward the end of the second whorl, or at the beginning of the

third. The angulation becomes more pronounced with further

growth. It is attended with a flattening of the whorls between

suture and periphery. Two headwaters lots have indexes of

obesity of 71.4 and 73.3 per cent respectively ; the two lowermost

lots, indexes of 77.3 and 76.3 per cent. The change in relative

obesity does not affect the angulation. It is present in all the

shells taken from the Ogeechee River, and this is true also of

Campeloma collected in the tributary Canoochee River. Of about

three hundred specimens, only one is sinistral. Some of the shells

130 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

contained ova, a few of them juveniles, but apparently the spawn-

ing season was nearly over. The month was August.

C. genicidum occurs in the coastal plain from North Carolina to

Florida and Louisiana. It appears to be especially common in west

Florida and south Alabama, to judge by collections made by H. H.

Smith and T. H. Aldrich. Of sixty-six lots at hand, only three are

from localities above the Falls Line. These were taken in Abbe-

ville County, S. C, Bartow County, Ga., and Talladega County,

Ala. Four lots, aside from the sixty-six, are transitional from

geniculum to what has been named C. limum (Anthony). They

are possibly Pilsbry 's C. rufum geniculiforme. In several Alabama

streams, geniculum is a headwaters form and limum (so named)

the down-stream form. We may suppose this to be the case also

in Flint River, Ga., whence Conrad obtained his one specimen and

Binney his several. That distinctive specific names are warranted

where characters come and go, as it were, if of course debatable.

Judged on a strictly biological basis, there seems to be excuse

enough for Binney 's course in throwing genicula among synonyms.

This is a matter that has probably bedeviled all observers. C. C.

Adams solved the problem satisfactorily as regards the genus Io.

Yet the solution is not everywhere applicable. What is needed is

a nomenclatorial term, other than subspecies or form, that can

pigeon-hole the varying phases of a mollusk that undergoes changes

of character with changes of position in stream.

Other gastropods collected with the Campeloma were :

Succinea floridana Pilsbry. A single specimen turned up in

dredgings.

Helisoma antrosum (Conrad). A few rather small specimens.

Helisoma trivolvis (Say) . Dead specimens, not exceeding seven

or eight in number. Probably nowhere plentiful in the basin.

Physa cubensis Pfeiffer. A single specimen appears to be this

species.

Physa heterostropha Say. One individual very like shells from

Delaware River, the type locality.

Ferrissia rivularis (Say). Two shells among debris of dredg-

ings.

Valvata Mcarinata Lea. From two or three to a dozen speci-

mens were taken at virtually all the collecting localities. They are

April, 1939] the nautilus 131

all alike in having depressed spires and lacking peripheral carinae.

Comparison with two subspecies of bicarinata of Michigan suggest

that the middle western shells are derived out of tricarinata rather

than bicarinata.

Amnicola limosal (Say). Occurs apparently in all parts of the

Ogeechee River.

Amnicola olivacea Pilsbry.

Amnicola Integra (Say).

Somatogyrus aureus Tryon. This species and the two preceding

ones came from one section of the Ogeechee. Bottom was of sand

and mud, covered over with twigs and leaves ; it was of sufficient

stability to permit the growth of patches of water lilies. The

locality was above tidal influence. Current speed varied from two

to five or six miles per hour.

Goniobasis catenaria postellii (Lea). Found living only in

headwaters of the Ogeechee. The shells have the peculiar bullet-

like shape of those taken presumably in the lower part of the

Altamaha River by James Postell. This tendency toward the

cylindrical is not shown in all the specimens or in those collected

by Clench and Okkelberg in the Ocmulgee River, a tributary of

the Altamaha.

The family Sphaeriidae was represented by:

Sphaerium striatinum (Lamarck). Taken in two places. Seem-

ingly uncommon.

Pisidium compressum Prime. Rare, and occurring with

Pisidium virginicum (Gmelin). Collected in sixteen localities

of the Ogeechee and in four places in the Canoochee River. Some

of the specimens are very large as compared with examples of the

species taken in the Middle West.

Eupera cubensis (Prime). A single, living, well-marked speci-

men was taken in the lowermost locality of the Ogeechee. The

habitat contrasts with Weduska Shoals of Coosa River, Shelby

Co., Alabama, where H. H. Smith came upon the species.

The Amnicolidae were kindly identified by Dr. Elmer Berry.

132 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

MEXICAN MOLLUSKS COLLECTED FOR DR.

BRYANT WALKER IN 1926, PART 3

BY H. BURRINGTON BAKER

The first paper on this collection appeared as Occ. Papers Mus.

Zool. Univ. Mich., no. 193, and contains (pp. 1-25) a detailed dis-

cussion of the localities and the symbols utilized for them. In the

following descriptions of new species and subspecies, only the type

locality is cited.

Spiraxis (Pseudosubulina) irregularis negligens, new sub-

species.

Shell subulate-turrite, greenish yellow to whitish, translucent,

irregularly thread-costulate. Whorls 11^, flattened, with promi-

nent, quite simple suture. Apex narrowly rounded; embryonic

whorls 2|, quite rapidly widening, almost smooth except closely

ribbed last whorl. Later whorls short, gradually increasing ; first

with 57 juxtaposed threads; second with 46 and third with 44,

separated by subequal interspaces; remainder with low but

sharply-marked threads which are quite irregularly spaced and

often occur in pairs, separated by wide striate interspaces. Aper-

ture small, ovate-quadrate, with longest dimension about 40° to

long axis of shell; peristome inclined about 15°, weakly arcuate,

quite simple. Columella concave, markedly truncate. Alt. 8.48

mm., diam. 28 (2.34mm.), alt. last whorl 33 (2.84mm.) ; aperture:

alt. 20 (1.66 mm.), diam. 69 (1.15 mm.).

Necaxa, alt. 5000 ft. (AB, III, a, 34). This subspecies is much

slenderer than typical 8. irregularis (Pils.) from Texolo, V. C.

A form with stouter middle whorls, which give the shell more con-

vex outlines, occurs with 8. i. negligens and approaches the typical

form more closely. An example (AB, III, a, 41) measures: alt.

9.25, diam. 29 (2.68), alt. last whorl 34 (3.12) ; aperture: alt. 21

(1.96), diam. 68 (1.34) ; whorls 11.

S. (P.) ventrosus, new species.

Shell urocoptoid-turrite, greenish corneous, somewhat translu-

cent, regularly and very closely thread-costulate. Whorls 11, flat-

tened, with telescoped suture. Apex relatively small, rounded-

ogival ; embryonic whorls 2\, of which last 1\ begin neanic sculp-

ture. Later whorls short, more rapidly increasing near apex than

towards base, with rather shallow suture ; first with 52 low threads

and slightly narrower interspaces, which show weak spiral striae ;

second with 59, third with 67, last with 92 threads that are consid-

April, 1939] the nautilus 133

erably wider than their interspaces and are weakly crested below

suture. Aperture trapezoidal-lanceolate, oblique (long axis 40°

to that of shell) ; peristome almost vertical and little arcuate.

Columella concave, strongly but obliquely truncate. Alt. 12.69,

diam. 27 (3.48), alt. last whorl 36 (4.62) ; aperture : alt. 23 (2.89),

diam. 64 (1.85).

Tenango Hills, Necaxa, 4600 ft. (B, I, a, 41); one shell. 8.

ventrosus has early whorls like S. texoloensis but the later whorls

are much broader and higher and have closer striae. It has a

smaller apex and less oblique suture than S. fortis (Marts.).

S. (P.) caducus, new species.

Shell subcylindric-turrite, very light corneous, almost ivory,

lightly translucent, with thin, well spaced riblets. Whorls 12,

markedly convex with deep, simple suture. Apex fairly large;

embryonic whorls 2\, quite rapidly widening; almost smooth ex-

cept gradual assumption of neanic sculpture on last half-whorl.

Later whorls fairly short, gradually widening ; first with about 55

threads which are closely spaced at beginning; second and third

with 43 to 44 narrower riblets and widening interspaces ; last with

43 thin but quite high riblets which abruptly taper down towards

suture and gradually fade away on base. Aperture small, quad-

rate-ovate, long axis about 35° to that of shell; peristome almost

vertical (about 10° to shell-axis) and slightly arcuate. Columella

markedly concave and abruptly truncate ; columellar and parietal

callus distinct and continuous. Alt. 9.86, diam. 25 (2.48), alt. last

whorl 32 (3.12) ; aperture: alt. 19 (1.88), diam. 65 (1.23).

Las Tortolas, Cordoba (AD, III, a, 4). 8. caducus resembles

8. borealis (Pils.), but has more deeply impressed suture and more

convex whorls. It appears to be the commonest Pseudosubulina

around Cordoba. A stouter form, with less concave columella,

that occurs with it, measures: alt. 9.28, diam. 27 (2.50), alt. last

whorl 36 (3.36) ; aperture: alt. 21 (1.97), diam. 61 (1.21) ; 10 f

whorls.

S. (P.) costatus, new species.

Shell cylindric-turrite, imperforate, greenish white, translucent,

costulate. Whorls about 8, flattened convex, with deep crenulate

suture. Apex obtuse ; embryonic whorls 2\, rapidly widening, al-

most smooth (weakly punctate) but with fine striae appearing on

last half-whorl. Later whorls gradually increasing, with heavy

riblets, about as wide as interspaces, which are weakly and finely

striate spirally; first with 30 ribs; last with only 20; last whorl

convexly, gradually tapering with riblets weaker at basal end.

134 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

Aperture and peristome quite oblique (each about 30° to shell-

axis), trapezoidal-ovate; palatal lip weakly arcuate, almost thick-

ened ; columella concave above, obliquely and rather weakly trun-

cate. Alt. 3.81, diam. 29 (1.11), alt. last whorl 40 (1.51);

aperture: alt. 23 (0.86), diam. 71 (0.61).

Atoyac (AD, I, a, 1), 1300 ft., infrequent. The convex whorls,

oblique suture and quite oblique aperture of 8. costatus distin-

guish it.

S. (P.) arcuatus, new species.

Shell subulate-turrite, imperforate, whitish, translucent, with

irregular fine arcuate riblets. Apex narrowly rounded ; embryonic

whorls 2f ; first 1.5 smoothish and remainder assuming close

growth-threads. Later whorls short, gradually increasing, with

fine closely spaced growth-threads, which become progressively

weaker and more irregular and usually die out below greatest

curvature of last whorl ; first with 59 threads ; second with 58 ;

third with 52; fourth with 57 and last with 61. Aperture

trapezoid with greatest dimension 30° to shell-axis ; parietal callus

thin but extensive ; peristome almost vertical, noticeably arcuate.

Columella almost straight, weakly and obliquely truncate. Alt.

4.02, diam. 30 (1.19), alt. last whorl 37 (1.49) ; aperture: alt. 23

(0.91), diam. 66 (0.60) ; 9 whorls.

Sumidero, about 3400 ft. (D, I, a, 6) ; very rare. The most

striking features of 8. arcuatus are its feeble, arcuate growth-

threads.

S. (P.) parvus, new species.

Shell turrite, imperforate, silvery white, translucent, finely cos-

tulate. Whorls about 7f, slightly flattened convex, with deep

crenulate suture. Apex obtuse; embryonic whorls 2\, rapidly

widening, almost smooth (weakly punctate) but becoming closely

thread-ribbed on last f whorls. Later whorls quite short, gradu-

ally increasing, with fine but prominent thread-riblets, much nar-

rower than their interspaces and weaker basally ; without distinct

spiral striae ; first and second with about 36 threads ; last with 38.

Aperture slightly oblique (about 20° to long axis of shell), broadly

trapezoidal-ovate; peristome almost vertical but arcuate below

periphery ; columella slightly concave, obliquely and weakly trun-

cate. Alt. 3.40, diam. 35 (1.18), alt. last whorl 42 (1.44) ; aper-

ture: alt. 26 (0.88), diam. 66 (0.58).

Above Necaxa, alt. 5000 ft. (BC, III, a, 34) ; quite infrequent.

8. parvus has similar growth sculpture to 8. linearis (Pfr.), as

figured by Strebel und Pfeffer, but the latter has much more ob-

lique whorls and appears to have simpler columella.

April, 1939] the nautilus 135

OBITUARY OF PROFESSOR A. E. BOYCOTT, F.R.S.

With the death of Arthur Edwin Boycott on 12th May Science

lost an outstanding man distinguished both as a pathologist and

a naturalist, and the many who knew him lost a valued and greatly

respected friend ever ready to help anyone, however undistin-

guished, who was genuinely seeking the advancement of knowledge.

Boycott was born at Hereford in 1877 where he received his

early education at the Cathedral School. From this he entered

Oriel College, Oxford, with an open classical scholarship in 1894.

During the first part of his university career he continued his

classical studies, gaining a first class in Classical Moderations.

Then he turned to medicine and graduated with first class honours

in Natural Science. He completed his medical course at St.

Thomas's Hospital, London, and graduated M.B. (Oxon) in 1902.

Research was his chosen line and in the next year he was appointed

to a subsidiary lectureship at Guy's Hospital, London, and elected

to a fellowship at Brasenose College, Oxford. In 1904 he went to

the Lister Institute and three years later was recalled to Guy's.

In 1912 he was appointed to the chair of pathology at Manchester,

but in 1915 he returned to London to occupy the Graham chair of

patholog}^ at University College, where he remained till continued

ill-health led him to resign in 1935. Of his contributions to

pathology this is not the place to speak in detail, but their im-

portance was recognized by his election to the Royal Society in

1914 at the age of 37.

The deep interest in land and freshwater snails which was to

last his lifetime had early taken root. At the age of 15 Boycott

published his first paper containing a list of the species to be found

in Herefordshire. During the next 46 years there appeared from

his pen a long series of notes and papers which revealed the ex-

ceptional qualities of his mind and invariably shed new light on

the many problems he attacked. His scholarly outlook and nice

sense of words gave his style a lucidity, literary charm and pre-

cision often sadly lacking in scientific communications. His in-

terest was directed mainly to the properties of the living organism

in its natural surroundings ; and, though sometimes dogmatic and

even difficult in the affairs of men, he faced nature with the won-

dering humility of the true naturalist.

136 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

It is difficult to assess the total contribution of a man whose

interest was so wide and whose capacity for work was so un-

bounded, but it is possible to consider his influence on each of

five fields of enquiry : general studies, biometry, genetics, ecology,

and geographical distribution. Under the first head may be in-

cluded a number of notes often on little understood or closely

related species and dealing with variation, anatomy, sexual dif-

ferences, habits, or pathology, but each contributing new facts,

clearing up old difficulties, or correcting misapprehensions. In

this field of minor problems striking advances are not to be ex-

pected, but it is the general effect on contemporary work and

thought that is of importance; and these notes are but a partial

crystallization of the wide and stimulating influence he exerted

and the wise counsel he gave to all who came in contact with his

work or sought his guidance. He was impressed with the value of

the work of local natural history societies and other amateur

bodies, and always ready to do anything to further their efforts.

It was in this spirit that Boycott sought to spread knowledge of

the use of statistical and biometrical methods, and in his presi-

dential address to the Malacological Society of London gave with

his usual lucidity a statement for the plain man on practical con-

chometry. Here, again, the study of snails gained much not only

from Boycott's own enquiries but from those he encouraged other

workers to undertake.

It is in the field of genetics that Boycott's name has become most

widely known to general biologists. When, in a pond near Leeds,

he came across a natural population of Limnaea peregra which

contained a proportion of sinistrals far higher than chance abnor-

mality would suggest, he at once recognized that here was an ex-

cellent problem to which genetical analysis might be applied. In

1920 he brought back four sinistrals for breeding. These original

parents formed the basis of the enormous stock, amounting in

some ten years to about 1,000,000 snails, from which the now

classical conclusions were drawn. His results in the first two

years showed that the inheritance of sinistrality was no simple

problem and that large scale breeding was essential. He appealed

for collaborators and, being the man he was, obtained an imme-

diate response. During the next eight years he controlled and

April, 1939] the nautilus 137

himself bore most of the labor — the annual counting of thousands

of trays full of minute young Limnaea — of this vast experiment.

This work was undertaken in addition to what most men would

have regarded as a full life, his professorial duties and his editor-

ship of the Journal of Pathology, not to mention his general mol-

luscan interests and other experiments such as that on Hydrobia

jenkinsi. It is hardly surprising that he had little time for rest,

and the strain of these years undoubtedly told on his health ; but

he was as incapable of sparing himself as he was of departing

from the high principles that governed his scientific outlook and

dictated his behavior. When his work on sinistrality was closing

down, he began experiments on the shell shape that characterizes

different natural populations of L. peregra. He had a number of

different strains in culture, some of which were carried to the sixth

generation. This work was continued after his retirement and

throughout his last illness. The paper embodying its results, now

in the press, was only completed a few days before his death.

From his earliest studies in Herefordshire (1896-7) to his

detailed survey of the parish of Aldenham in Herefordshire on

which the last paper was published in 1929, Boycott had been

steadity amassing a wealth of information about where snails live.

This knowledge he summarized in two masterly papers (one of

which was based on his presidential address to the British Eco-

logical Society) which firmly laid the foundations of molluscan

ecology. For these publications ecologists concerned with land

and freshwater snails owe Boycott a debt which they can only

repay by carrying on the work he loved and trying to maintain

the exceptionally high standards he set. In this field, as in

genetics, his contributions to knowledge stand in print to form a

fitting monument to his endeavor ; but his equally important work

on distribution carried out as recorder to the Conchological Society

of Great Britain and Ireland — a duty undertaken on Roebuck's

death in 1919 and continued till his own death — is known only to

a smaller circle. Working on the material that Roebuck had col-

lected, he produced in 1921 an edition of the Society's census of

land and freshwater mollusca which is a model for all future work

of its kind for whatever group of organisms. It is a great loss

that he did not live to complete a revised edition based on his own

years of work as recorder.

138 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

As a man, Boycott's strong personality, hatred of shams, and

uncompromising adherence to his principles, sometimes made him

appear stern to those who did not understand him; but to his

friends he firmly endeared himself by his deep sincerity, integrity

and great personal charm. Whether as a collaborator in the lab-

oratory or as a companion in the field, where perhaps he was

in his happiest vein, his lively interest, delicate humor, and un-

conventional behavior, made even the most tiresome drudgery a

pleasant occupation. Out of such men comes not only the advance

of knowledge but a hope for the future of humanity.

Capt. Cyril Diver

NOTES AND NEWS

Physa on the California Islands. — In the Smithsonian Re-

port for 1877, p. 317, Dr. Stephen Bowers has an account of the

Pleistocene of Santa Rosa Island, based on the work of Dr. L. A.

Yates. He says : ' ' near the mouth of Soledad Canyon there is a

fine exposure of strata consisting of about 90 feet of post-Pliocene

deposits, containing fossil bones of vertebrates and at one place

fossil Physa, at a depth of some 75 feet below the surface." In

1890, Yates recorded Physa d'orbignyana Lea from Santa Rosa

Island. P. d'orbignyana, described from Monterey, California, is

a synonym of P. virgata Gould, according to Pilsbry and Ferriss.

In 1938, 1 found Physa on San Nicolas and Santa Catalina Islands,

and all the specimens have been found by Mr. W. J. Clench to be

P. virgata Gould; he has kindly compared them with Gould's

types, and the determination is unquestioned. The specimens on

San Nicolas were found in a spring close to the sea, along with a new

species of Isopod (Exosphaeroma) , which is being described by

W. G. Van Name. Those from Santa Catalina were obtained from

an artificial water-lily pond in the garden of Carl W. Carson, in

the middle of Avalon. On the water-lily leaves were many Helix

aspersa, and the slugs Limax arbomm (marginatus auctt.) and L.

flavus, these three being of course European species introduced.

I visited Echo Lake, said to be the only natural lake on Sta. Cata-

lina, but found no mollusca, only tadpoles and Notonecta. — T. D.

A. Cockerell.

April, 1939] the nautilus 139

Correction of Certain Figure References to Choanopoma. —

In the Nautilus, vol. 47, no. 4, April, 1934, p. 133, Choanopoma

(Annularodes) uncinatum indivisum Welch should have refer-

ence to PI. 11, figs. 8 and 9 ; Fig. 9 being the holotype. On p. 135,

Choanopoma {Annular odes) pilsbryi Welch should have PI. 11,

figs. 10 and 11 ; Fig. 11, the holotype, measures Leng. 17.1 mm.,

gr. diam. 9.7 mm. — d'Alte Welch.

Pseudantalis monterosato, Nom. Gen. e Spec. Conch. Medit.,

p. 32 (1884), was proposed for several species but without desig-

nation of type. P. rubescens (Dentalium rubescens Desh.) is to

be taken as genotype. — Pilsbry.

The Emmet Rixford Collection. — Collecting Mollusca was a

side issue of this eminent surgeon, pursued at various times

through a busy career. His own efforts, as those of his son,

Dr. Emmet Rixford, Jr., were confined largely to California, and

were directed primarily toward the land forms. The men became

expert in finding rare or unusual species. In addition to such

material, the collection contains the shells obtained many years

ago by William Sutton, who was connected with a lumber firm in

San Francisco. Mr. Sutton was in correspondence with many

conchologists in the 1880 's and 90 's and some very unexpected

names appear on the labels. There is also present a considerable

amount of material from Mr. Willard M. Wood and some from

A. W. Crawford, the eccentric cabinet-maker who discovered

Monadenia circumcarinata and other rarities. The collection has

been presented to the California Academy of Sciences where it is

now being sorted and catalogued, — G. D. Hanna.

Dr. George H. Clapp's eightieth birthday was celebrated on

December 16th by a dinner given by the board of trustees of the

University of Pittsburgh, of which Dr. Clapp is President.

Mr. E. G. Vanatta, for nearly forty years on the staff of the

Department of Mollusks of the Academy of Natural Sciences, died

on January 19th, after a long illness. Further notice will follow.

Note re Paphia bifurcata, a new molluscan species from

Ladysmith Harbour, B. C. — The description of this species, then

considered as new to science, was published in the Journal of the

140 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 4 (1), 1938. Since that

time it has been found that the mollusk is Paphia philippinarum

Adams and Reeve, a species indigenous to Japan. Apparently it

was introduced into Ladysmith Harbour with Japanese seed

oysters (Ostrea gigas) imported into Ladysmith Harbour just pre-

vious to 1930. This accounts for the limited distribution. It is

regretted that such an error has been made, but at least the addi-

tion of the species to the molluscan fauna of British Columbia is

recorded and a description of it is no\* available. — D. B. Quayle.

New Opercula for Old. — In a letter written several years ago,

Herbert H. Smith spoke of finding species of Pleuroceridae in

which a lost or diseased operculum had been replaced with a fresh

one. He gave no description of the regenerations. I have come

upon one complete operculum and part of another which may be

cases of this phenomenon. They were taken from specimens of

Pleurocera canaliculatum undulatum (Say) which were collected

by Mr. W. J. Clench in a stream of north Alabama. The intact

operculum is very thin, and a little more than twice the size of

opercula of accompanying specimens. Both margins are frayed,

and the left margin shows none of the thickening or parallel exten-

sions which is usual in the genus. The base is not flattened in

the ordinary way, and the nuclear whorls are open, well marked ;

not pinched or eroded. The area of attachment can scarcely be

defined since it lacks the raised callus at the borders which repre-

sent accretions. There are innumerable growth lines, but not one

of those dark scars which we have come to think of as recording

rest periods. The whole operculum looks as though it had been

secreted hurriedly. It cannot be said with positiveness that this

is an example of regeneration, but only that it carries that sug-

gestion.— Calvin Goodrich.

Sinistral Liguus fasciatus roseatus. — "While returning from

the Havana meet of last year with two companions we stopped on

Key Largo to collect a few more of the Liguus or tree snails.

What was my astonishment and delight on getting into the car

with five specimens in my hand to notice that one was sinistral.

It was fully developed and belongs to the roseatus group. I un-

derstand that one can count on the fingers of one hand the number

of sinistral Liguus known. — D. L. Emery.

April, 1939] the nautilus 141

Cypraea spadicea in the bulla stage. — In looking over some of

my back numbers of the ' ' Nautilus ' ' I noticed in the copy of July,

1938, a statement of Mr. Ingram regarding the bulla stage of the

Cypraea spadicea Swains, that he believes his collected in 1937

were among the first to be taken alive.

While living in San Diego, in December, 1915, Mrs. Stephens,

of the S. D. Society of Natural History, and I collected 30 of these

Cypraea all alive and as near as I can remember now about 50%

of them were in the bulla stage. I now have in my collection a

series of 6 of these juveniles measuring from 13 to 34 mm. Not

a dead specimen was found at that time.

I have a fine pair found at Point Loma about a year later which

are fully developed and measure 32 mm. These have fine color,

also a fine bluish-gray specimen which looks as though it had just

finished developing the teeth, measuring 42 mm. This last has just

started putting on a little color. I think this rather antedates

Mr. Ingram's specimens. — D. L. Emery, St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Conchological Club of Southern California has issued

their Program for 1939, giving subjects and speakers for the

twelve regular meetings, together with a list of 74 members and

17 associate members. The Club was organized in 1902. This in-

teresting program and the membership list are good evidence that

conchology is flourishing in California.

POMACEA PALUDOSA A PREDATOR ON THE BROWN DARTER. — On

February 26, 1939, I observed a gravid female brown darter

(Villora edwini) perched on the shell of a specimen of Pomacea

paludosa which was clinging to the wall of a five gallon aquarium

about one inch below the surface of the water. The presence of

both creatures there may have been due to the fact that a lamp,

left burning a few inches over the water at that end of the

aquarium, had slightly warmed the water. When I left the room

for a brief period, the snail was stationary, and there was a space

about the width of the fish's body between the shell of the snail

and the wall to which it was fixed.

When I returned to the scene about ten minutes later the snail

had dropped to the bottom, and its foot was wrapped about the

body of the darter. Examination showed that the entire belly-

142

THE NAUTILUS

[Vol. 52 (4)

wall, all the viscera, and part of the dorsal muscles of the fish had

been eaten away.

The snail had an operculum diameter of approximately 2.2 x 1.5

centimeters ; the fish was 4 cm. in length and apparently in good

health. The aquarium in which the incident occurred contained

three strands of Cabomba caroliniana and a large rock ; the bottom

was covered by an inch of Interlachen sand. Beside the snail and

the fish mentioned above, the only macroscopic organism present

was a swamp darter, (Hololepis barratti). The aquarium re-

ceived little light, and algal growth was very sparse — Willam A.

McLane, Department of Biology, University of Florida.

Succession of Teeth in Fresh- water Mollusca. — If one com-

pares the nascent posterior rows of teeth in radulae with the

blunted anterior extremity there can be no question of constant

wear and tear whilst feeding, as I had mistakenly doubted through

studying the embryonic and adult radulae of fresh-water mol-

lusca. There must be more replacement of teeth among those

species which feed on coarse vegetation than occurs among those

whose food consists largely of micro-fungi but I have noted blunt-

ing in from thirty to forty rows in examples of Physopsis africana

Krauss and Bulinus tropicus Krauss. Unlike the elongated

radulae of terrestrial species, those of fresh-water species may be

only twice as long as they are broad. This does not suggest so

much shedding of teeth as occurs in terrestrial species. Teeth in

the middle rows are most numerous, because the extremities of

the anterior rows are exposed to wear and are constantly being

thrown off. The number of teeth in the middle rows of individual

radulae at the Natal Museum are approximately as follows :

Physopsis africana Krauss 70; number of transverse rows 158

119

90

120

196

103

F. Gordon Cawston

Bulinus tropicus (Krauss) 48

Lymnaea natalensis Krauss 76

Planorbis pfeifferi Krauss 44

Melampus pineatus Jaq. 82

Succinea oblonga Drap. 60

The American Malacological Union will hold its ninth annual

meeting in the Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology, Queen's Park

April, 1939] the nautilus 143

at Bloor St., Toronto, Ontario, from Tuesday, June 20th to

Friday, June 23rd, inclusive. A part of the program will be

devoted to fossil mollusks. Titles of papers and time required

for delivery should be sent to John Oughton at the above men-

tioned address, or to the Secretary, Mrs. Harold R. Robertson,

Buffalo Museum of Science, Buffalo, N. Y.

Setipellis stigmatica (Pfeiffer). — The anatomy of specimens

(ANSP. 163914) from Puerta de Ancon, Vinales, Pinar del Rio,

Cuba, shows that Setipellis Pilsbry (1926, Proc. ANSP. 78: 111),

proposed as a section of Suavitas Pilsbry (1926: 109; Sagdidae)

on account of distinct resemblances in shell characters, actually

belongs in the Cepolinae (Helicidae) . As contrasted with Cepolis,

its epiphallus is very short with the flagellum only represented by

a slight conical protuberance. Its dart-glands ( ? ) consist of a

large bundle of long parallel tubules and (in one of two animals)

a vestigial pair of short ones ; both open, at the level of the atrium,

into a cavity formed by a sheath that surrounds the atrium and

the dart-sac. — H. Burrington Baker.

Exsuavitas, new subgenus of Aquebana Pilsbry. — The geni-

talia of animals of Aquebana (Exsuavitas) pubescens (Pfeiffer),

collected June 12, 1933, halfway between Kenskoff (alt. 4785 ft.)

and Petionville, Haiti, exhibit a very short appendicular branch of

the penis and a small but well formed, tubular appendix. The

epiphallar branch is invested by a gland which consists of short

tubules or alveoli and the epiphallus itself lacks a flagellum.

Although A. pubescens evidently belongs in the Sagdinae, it does

not appear to be congeneric with Suavitas Pilsbry, of which

Aquebana Pilsbry (1926, p. Ill) was proposed as a subgenus, or

with any of the Jamaican genera (See H.B.B., 1935, Naut. 48:

135). The anatomy of A. velutina (Lamarck), the type of the

genus from Puerto Rico, is unknown, but the postembryonic whorls

of its shell have scabious epidermal expansions along the growth-

wrinkles, quite different from those of A. pubescens, the type

of the new subgenus Exsuavitas, which bear short hairs arranged

in protractive and retractive rows. — H. Burrington Baker.

144 THE NAUTILUS [VOL. 52 (4)

Cepolis (Euclastaria?) debilis (Pfeiffer). — The genitalia of

animals from Matanzas, Cuba (C. G. Aguayo, April, 1931), are

quite similar to those of C. (Plagioptycha) salvatoris (Pfr.), as

figured by Dr. Pilsbry (1895, Manual, vol. 9, pi. 52, f. 15). The

systematic position of Euclastaria Pilsbry (1926, p. 112), proposed

as a subgenus of Suavitas, depends on the unknown anatomy of

its type species, C.f musicola (Shuttleworth) from Puerto

Rico. — H. Burrington Baker.

Stagnicola bulimoides vancouverensis Nov. Var. — Shell dif-

fering from typical bulimoides in its larger size, more ovate and

widely expanded aperture, wider inner lip which is less triangular

than in typical bulimoides, and coarser sculpture which is almost

rib-striate in some specimens.

L. 18.5; D. 10.2; Aperture L. 11.4; D. 6.5 mm. Paratype

18.2 10.6 11.4 6.1 mm.

18.0 10.4 9.8 5.5 mm.

Type locality: Hospital, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, B. C.

Holotype and paratypes in Leland Stanford University. Para-

types in Baker Coll., No. 3197. This large form of 8. bulimoides

is apparently common in the southern part of Vancouver Island.

It was discovered by the late Professor Junius Henderson when

making a study of the Hemphill material in the Leland Stanford

University Museum. A figure will appear later. — Frank C.

Baker.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

The snail Polygyra thyroidus as a mycophagist. By Fred T.

Wolf and Frederick A. Wolf. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 66 : 1-5,

1 fig., 1939. The snail was observed under natural conditions to

eat the powdery mildew Microsphaera alni on lilac, several feet

above ground, in consequence of which a feeding track of peculiar

and characteristic design was produced on the leaves. Similar

tracks were found on crustose lichens and on the sporophores of

Polyporus picipes. It preferred fungi to lettuce and other green

plants.— H. B. B.

Vol. 52 JULY, 1938 No. 1

NAUTILUS

A QUARTERLY

DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF CONCHOLOGISTS

EDITOBS AND PDBLISHEES :

HENRY A. PILSBRY, Curator of the Department of Mollusca,

Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia

H. BURRINGTON BAKER, Associate Professor of Zoology,

University of Pennsylvania

\fi

CONTENTS

Notes on the Cowry, Cypraea Spadicea, Swainson. By Wil-

liam Marcus Ingram 1

Cypraeidae from Guam. By William Marcus Ingram 5

The Type Locality of "Helix Tudiculata Var. Tularensis

Hemphill. " By G. D. Banna 7

Remarks on Some West American Mollusks. By G. Willett 10

New Varieties of Anguispira and Discus. By Gordon M.

Kutchka 11

List of Molluscs from Drift Debris of Paladora Creek, Texas.

By W. T. Clarke, Jr 14

New Species of Urocoptis and Euglandina. By Henry A.

Pilsbry 15

Busycon Carica (Gmelin) as a Genotype. By Burnett Smith.. 16

A New Pseudomelatoma from California. By Tom Burch 21

The Type of Polygyra Say. By H. A. Pilsbry 22

A Pleistocene Snail from San Miguel Island, California. By

T. D. A. Cockerell 24

Further Notes on the Location of Copies of Say's American

Conchology. By H. E. Wheeler 25

Further Notes on Archachatina. By J. Bequaert and W. J.

Clench 26

Note on Unreported Marine Molluscs from Sanibel, Florida 27

Opeas Gracile Hutton in Alabama. By H. E. Wheeler and

Allan F. Archer 29

Valvata Piscinalis (Miiller) in the Great Lakes. By John

Oughton 30

Notes and News 32

American Malacological Union : Eighth Annual Meeting 36

$^.00 per year ($2.15 to Foreign Countries) 50 cents a copy

HORACE B. BAKER, Business Manager

Zoological Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania,

38th and Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa.

Entered as Second-Class matter, October 29, 1932. at the Post Office at Phila-

delphia. Pa., under the Act of March 3, 1879.

THE NAUTILUS

THE NAUTILUS:

A Quarterly Journal devoted to the study of Mollusks, edited and pub-

lished by Henry A. Pilsbry and H. Burrington Baker.

Matter for publication should reach the senior editor by the first of the

month preceding the month of issue (January, April, July and October).

Typescript should be double spaced.

Beprints are furnished at printer's rates. Orders should be written on or

attached to first page of manuscript.

4 pp. 8 pp. 16 pp.

50 copies $3.70 5.40 7.60

100 copies 4.10 6.00 8.50

Additional 100s 75 1.20 1.80

Covers: 50 for $2.50; additional covers at the rate of $1.50 per hundred.

Plates (pasted in) : 65 cents for 50 ; $1.20 for 100.

The Nautilus is the official organ of the American Malacological Union.

Information regarding membership in the Union may be obtained from Mrs.

Imogene C. Bobertson, Financial Secretary, Buffalo Museum of Science,

Buffalo, N. Y.

EXCHANGE NOTICES

For Exchange: Fifteen varieties, Florida tree snails (Liguus) including

three of the rare solidus, to exchange for Achatinella, Amphidromus,

Bulimulus, Cochlostyla, Orthalicus, Porphyrobaphe and Placostylus.

Send your list to

Paul P. McGinty, Boynton, Florida.

Wanted: Back Volumes and Numbers of The Nautilus. Especially Vols.

3, 4, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24. Address

Horace B. Baker, Zool. Lab., Univ. Pennsylvania.

Wanted: Pupillidae preserved in alcohol for dissection.

Prof. C. M. Steenberg, University of Copenhagen,

Norregade 10, Denmark

For Exchange: Key West and lower Florida Keys marine and land shells.

Mrs. Mario V. Calleja, 1117 Fleming Street,

Key West, Fla.

Exchange Notice: I exchange European land and freshwater shells and

from the territory of Poland for oversea specimens. I exchange always

very good samples and I can supply the collection of the Polish forms

of land and freshwater mollusks.

Adolf Sitsch, Eadomyil nad Sanem, Lubelska 35, Poland.

(Continued on p. Hi)

THE NAUTILUS 111

Foe Exchange: European and Foreign shells (large number of recent and

tertiary sp.) offered against sp. new to me. Apply with full list to:

J. L. Staed, 123 Eue Clovis, Eheims, Marne, France.

West Coast Shells for sale or exchange. My list sent on request.

Tom Buech, 1611 South Elena Avenue,

Redondo Beach, California

HANDBOOK FOR SHELL COLLECTORS

2,200 illustrations and descriptions, prices they are usually sold for and much

other valuable matter. How to properly clean shells, approximate number of

species under the genera treated. Price $2.50 prepaid. Also a special U.S.A.

book covering marine shells on both coasts, some land shells, invertebrates,

etc., paper bound only $1.00.

I have 25,000 species of shells in stock properly classified and sold for the

most reasonable prices. Boxes on approval and selection as often as you wish.

Shells have been my hobby since 1893 and I expect I have followed it farther

and spent more real cash on them than any one now living in this country.

Let me hear from you if you mean business.

Walter F. Webb

202 Westminster Road Rochester, N. Y.

FOR SALE

Many fine works on Conchology at bargain prices. Complete set of the

Nautilus, Journal of Malacology, most of Journal of Conchology, Kiener,

Semper 'a work on Philippine Shells, Mollusca of Mexico and Central America

and a hundred other vols, as well as several hundred authors separates, some

in fine new bound vols. Send stamp for list or state wants.

WALTER F. WEBB

Box 1854 St. Petersburg, Florida

TO ALL MUSEUMS AND COLLECTORS:

If you will send to me a Johnson check list with the specimens you espe-

cially desire checked off, or indicated, I will place your name on my "serve

in proper turn list. ' ' This will fix matters so that you may secure some

of the more rare species being turned up from time to time by The Frank

Lyman Family. Your check list will be promptly returned. Fifty per

cent discount is allowed to all Public Museums. No exchanges are made.

All specimens sent on approval. If your wants are few a letter stating

species desired will serve as well as a check list. Write today.

FRANK B. LYMAN,

Lantana, Florida

IV THE NAUTILUS

EAST COAST MARINE SHELLS

Descriptions of shore mollusks occurring from Maine to Texas together

with figures of practically every species including many from off shore sta-

tions. More than a thousand illustrations, including photographs and draw-

ings.

Edition limited to one thousand copies. Cloth bound $4.50. Orders filled

in order of receipt. Address the author:

MAXWELL SMITH,

Lantana, Florida

THE MANUAL OF CONCHOLOGY

The volume finished in 1935 completes the monograph

of the Pupillidae and their allies.

Issued quarterly in parts of which four form a volume.

Plain Edition, per vol., $15.00. Colored Edition, $20.00.

Department of Mollusca,

ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES,

PHILADELPHIA, PA.

The Largest and Finest Stock of Shells in Existence

Business established by Sowerby in 1861

SALE PURCHASE EXCHANGE

Good Adult Specimens Correctly Labelled at Moderate Prices

Our Catalogues are used by Museums aud Amateurs for

Reference and as Check-Lists.

HUGH C. FULTON

(Late SOWKRBY & FULTON)

27 Shaftesbury Road, London, W. 6, England

FLORIDA TREE SHELLS

FOB SALE — Collection of the late Charles A. Mosier. More than 17,000

Florida tree snails of the genus Liguus. Collected from 1911-1936, this collec-

tion cannot be duplicated. Many species extinct, many localities burned over

or destroyed. Many others where most beautiful species found are being quickly

wiped out by ardent collectors.

Contains many rare shells, including most known species and color forms of

Florida Liguus and one undescribed species. Shells in beautiful condition with

accurate localities and dates. Collection may be split equally in two parts as

to species and localities, provided buyer found for both.

If interested write

W. Donald Thomas care of Mrs. Charles Mosier

3902 NW 3rd Ave., Miami, Fla.

Vol. 51 OCTOBER, 1938 No. 2

T H F

NAUTILUS

Vj " ■ ■

A QUAETERLY ; - ^T^vO

DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF CONCHOLOGISTgT'O

EDITORS AND PUBLISHERS : \C

HENRY A. PILSBRY, Curator of the Department of Mollusca, '

Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia

H. BURRINGTON BAKER, Associate Professor of Zoology,

University of Pennsylvania . <• . * $/

% *

CONTENTS

A New Cuban Polydontes. By Carlos de la Torre 37

The Cuban Species of Polydontes. By Henry A. Pilsbry 38

Marine Collecting on the "West Coast of Mexico. By B. R.

Bales, M.D 41

On the Probable Cause of Certain Variations in Color of the

Shell in the Genus Liguus. By Dr. Ricardo de la Torre 46

A New Pseudochama from Clarion Island, Mexico. By G.

Willett ,. 48

A New Turbonilla from Redondo Beach, California. By Mac-

kenzie Gordon, Jr 49

A Crude Numerical Expression for the Brilliance of Gastropod

Shells. By E. A. Andrews 51

A New Species of Stenotrema from East Tennessee. By Allan

F. Archer 54

A Collection of Freshwater Shells from Kamchatka. By

W. J. Eyerdam 56

Valvata Piscinalis (Miiller) in the Great Lakes. By John

Oughton 60

Thural Dale Foster. By H. J. Van Cleave 62

Doctor Fred Baker. By Joshua L. Baily, Jr 64

The Eighth Annual Meeting of the American Malacological

Union. By Imogene C. Robertson 66

Notes and News 72

.00 per year ($2.15 to Foreign Countries) 50 cents a copy

HORACE B. BAKER, Business Manager

Zoological Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania,

38th and Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa.

Entered as Second-Class matter, October 29, 1932. at the Post Office at Phila-

delphia, Pa., under the Act of March 3, 1879.

11 THE NAUTILUS

THE NAUTILUS:

A Quarterly Journal devoted to the study of Mollusks, edited and pub-

lished by Heney A. Pilsbry and H. Buerington Baker.

Matter for publication should reach the senior editor by the first of the

month preceding the month of issue (January, April, July and October).

Typescript should be double spaced.

Bepeints are furnished at printer 's rates. Orders should be written on or

attached to first page of manuscript.

4 pp. 8 pp. 16 pp.

50 copies $3.70 5.40 7.60

100 copies 4.10 6.00 8.50

Additional 100s 75 1.20 1.80

Covers : 50 for $2.50 ; additional covers at the rate of $1.50 per hundred.

Plates (pasted in) : 65 cents for 50; $1.20 for 100.

The Nautilus is the official organ of the American Malacological Union.

Information regarding membership in the Union may be obtained from Mrs.

Imogene C. Bobertson, Financial Secretary, Buffalo Museum of Science,

Buffalo, N. Y.

EXCHANGE NOTICES

For Exchange: Fifteen varieties, Florida tree snails (Liguus) including

three of the rare solidus, to exchange for Achatinella, Amphidromus,

Bulimulus, Cochlostyla, Orthalicus, Porphyrobaphe and Placostylus.

Send your list to

Paul P. McGinty, Boynton, Florida.

Wanted: Back Volumes and Numbers of The Nautilus. Especially Vols.

3, 4, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24. Address

Horace B. Baker, Zool. Lab., Univ. Pennsylvania.

Wanted: Pupillidae preserved in alcohol for dissection.

Prof. C. M. Steenberg, University of Copenhagen,

Nbrregade 10, Denmark

For Exchange: Key West and lower Florida Keys marine and land shells.

Mrs. Mario V. Calleja, 1117 Fleming Street,

Key West, Fla.

Exchange Notice: I exchange European land and freshwater shells and

from the territory of Poland for oversea specimens. I exchange always

very good samples and I can supply the collection of the Polish forms

of land and freshwater mollusks.

Adolf Sitsch, Badomyil nad Sanem, Lubelska 35, Poland.

(Continued on p. in)

THE NAUTILUS 111

For Exchange: European and Foreign shells (large number of recent and

tertiary sp.) offered against sp. new to me. Apply with full list to:

J. L. Staed, 123 Rue Clovis, Rheims, Marne, France.

West Coast Shells for sale or exchange. My list sent on request.

Tom Burch, 1611 South Elena Avenue,

Redondo Beach, California

HANDBOOK FOR SHELL COLLECTORS

2,200 illustrations and descriptions, prices they are usually sold for and much

other valuable matter. How to properly clean shells, approximate number of

species under the genera treated. Price $2.50 prepaid. Also a special U.S.A.

book covering marine shells on both coasts, some land shells, invertebrates,

etc., paper bound only $1.00.

I have 25,000 species of shells in stock properly classified and sold for the

most reasonable prices. Boxes on approval and selection as often as you wish.

Shells have been my hobby since 1893 and I expect I have followed it farther

and spent more real cash on them than any one now living in this country.

Let me hear from you if you mean business.

Walter F. Webb

202 Westminster Road Rochester, N. Y.

FOR SALE

Many fine works on Conchology at bargain prices. Complete set of the

Nautilus, Journal of Malacology, most of Journal of Conchology, Kiener,

Semper 's work on Philippine Shells, Mollusca of Mexico and Central America

and a hundred other vols, as well as several hundred authors separates, some

in fine new bound vols. Send stamp for list or state wants.

WALTER F. WEBB

Box 1854 St. Petersburg, Florida

TO ALL MUSEUMS AND COLLECTORS:

If you will send to me a Johnson check list with the specimens you espe-

cially desire checked off, or indicated, I will place your name on my "serve

in proper turn list." This will fix matters so that you may secure some

of the more rare species being turned up from time to time by The Frank

Lyman Family. Your check list will be promptly returned. Fifty per

cent discount is allowed to all Public Museums. No exchanges are made.

All specimens sent on approval. If your wants are few a letter stating

species desired will serve as well as a check list. Write today.

FRANK B. LYMAN,

Lantana, Florida

IV THE NAUTILUS

EAST COAST MARINE SHELLS

Descriptions of shore mollusks occurring from Maine to Texas together

with figures of practically every species including many from off shore sta-

tions. More than a thousand illustrations, including photographs and draw-

ings.

Edition limited to one thousand copies. Cloth bound $4.50. Orders filled

in order of receipt. Address the author:

MAXWELL SMITH,

Lantana, Florida

THE MANUAL OF CONCHOLOGY

The volume finished in 1935 completes the monograph

of the Pupillidae and their allies.

Issued quarterly in parts of which four form a volume.

Plain Edition, per vol., $15.00. Colored Edition, $20.00.

Department of Mollusca,

ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES,

PHILADELPHIA, PA.

The Largest and Finest Stock of Shells in Existence

Business established by 8owerby in 1861

SALE PURCHASE EXCHANGE

Good Adult Specimens Correctly Labelled at Moderate Prices

Our Catalogues are used by Museums and Amateurs for

Reference and as Check-Lists.

HUGH C. FULTON

(Late SOWERBY & FULTON)

27 Shaftesbury Road, London, W. 6, England

FLORIDA TREE SHELLS

FOB SALE— Collection of the late Charles A. Mosier. More than 17,000

Florida tree snails of the genus Liguus. Collected from 1911-1936, this collec-

tion cannot be duplicated. Many species extinct, many localities burned over

or destroyed. Many others where most beautiful species found are being quickly

wiped out by ardent collectors.

Contains many rare shells, including most known species and color forms of

Florida Liguus and one undescribed species. Shells in beautiful condition with

accurate localities and dates. Collection may be split equally in two parts as

to species and localities, provided buyer found for both.

If interested write

H . Donald Thomas care of Mrs. Charles Mosier

3902 NW 3rd Ave., Miami, Fla.

Vol. 52 JANUARY, 1939 No. 3

T H F

NAUTILUS

A QUAETERLY

DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF CONCHOLOGISTS £ «*,•«&* >\1

EDITORS AND PDBLISHEES : j j j £ ^ £ . R \

HENRY A. PILSBRY, Curator of the Department of Mollusca.

Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia

H. BURRINGTON BAKER, Associate Professor of Zoology, VV**

University of Pennsylvania v &*??•>-*

Mt-f-

CONTENTS

Small Cassididae of Florida and the West Indies. By H. A.

Pilsbry and Tom L. McGinty 73

Note on the Type of Helix (Helieogena) Gilvus Ferussac.

By Dr. Carlos De La Torre 77

Sphaeriids from the Aleutian Islands. By Nils HJ. Odhner 79

A Triad of Umbilicate Latirus. By H. A. Pilsbry 84

Notes on the Genera Potamopyrgus and Lyrodes. By J. P.

E. Morrison 87

Notes on the Genus Lucina. By Richard A, McLean 88

A Sinistral Specimen of Busycon Pyrum (Dillwyn). By

Burnett Smith 89

Two New Philippine Land Shells. By Paul Bartsch 92

Oxystyla from Western Mexico. By Thomas L. McGinty 93

A Snail "Taxi." By Gordon K. Macmillan 94

Garden Mollusca in Eastern North America. By A. F.

Archer 95

A New Section and a New Subspecies of Stenotrema. By

Allan F. Archer 98

A Study of the Life Cycle of the Freshwater Mussel, Anodonta

Grandis, in New Orleans. By George H. Penn, Jr 99

Note on Pecten (Chlamys) Muscosus Wood. 1828 and P.

Exasperatus Sow. 1842. By Hugh C. Fulton 102

Cypraeidae from American Samoa with Notes on Species from

Palmyra Island. By William Marcus Ingram 103

Notes and News 105

$2.00 per year ($2.15 to Foreign Countries) 50 cents a copy

HORACE B. BAKER, Business Manager

Zoological Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania,

38th and Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa.

Entered as Second-Class matter, October 29, 1932. at the PoBt Office at Phila-

delphia, Pa., under the Act of March 3, 1879.

THE NAUTILUS

THE NAUTILUS:

A Quarterly Journal devoted to the study of Mollusks, edited and pub-

lished by Henry A. Pilsbrt and H. Burrington Baker.

Matter for publication should reach the senior editor by the first of the

month preceding the month of issue (January, April, July and October).

Typescript should be double spaced.

Beprints are furnished at printer 's rates. Orders should be written on or

attached to first page of manuscript.

4 pp. 8 pp. 16 pp.

50 copies $3.70 5.40 7.60

100 copies 4.10 6.00 8.50

Additional 100s 75 1.20 1.80

Covers: 50 for $2.50; additional covers at the rate of $1.50 per hundred.

Plates (pasted in) : 65 cents for 50; $1.20 for 100.

The Nautilus is the official organ of the American Malacological Union.

Information regarding membership in the Union may be obtained from Mrs.

Imogene C. Robertson, Financial Secretary, Buffalo Museum of Science,

Buffalo, N. Y.

EXCHANGE NOTICES

Wanted: One dollar each will be paid for July, 1938, copies of The

Nautilus.

Horace B. Baker, Zool. Lab. Univ. Penna.

For Exchange: Fifteen varieties, Florida tree snails (Liguus) including

three of the rare solidus, to exchange for Achatinella, Amphidromus,

Bulimulus, Cochlostyla, Orthalicus, Porphyrobaphe and Placostylus.

Send your list to

Paul P. McGinty, Boynton, Florida.

Waited: Back Volumes and Numbers of The Nautilus. Especially Vols.

3, 4, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24. Address

Horace B. Baker, Zool. Lab., Univ. Pennsylvania.

Wanted: Pupillidae preserved in alcohol for dissection.

Prof. C. M. Steenberg, University of Copenhagen,

Norregade 10, Denmark

For Exchange: Key West and lower Florida Keys marine and land shells.

Mrs. Mario V. Calleja, 1117 Fleming Street,

Key West, Fla.

Exchange Notice: I exchange European land and freshwater shells and

from the territory of Poland for oversea specimens. I exchange always

{Continued on p. in)

THE NAUTILUS 111

very good samples and I can supply the collection of the Polish forms

of land and freshwater mollusks.

Adolf Sitsch, Eadomyil nad Sanem, Lubelska 35, Poland.

Foe Exchange: European and Foreign shells (large number of recent and

tertiary sp.) offered against sp. new to me. Apply with full list to:

J. L. Staed, 123 Eue Clovis, Eheims, Marne, France.

West Coast Shells for sale or exchange. My list sent on request.

Tom Burch, 1611 South Elena Avenue,

Eedondo Beach, California

HANDBOOK FOR SHELL COLLECTORS

2,200 illustrations and descriptions, prices they are usually sold for and much

other valuable matter. How to properly clean shells, approximate number of

species under the genera treated. Price $2.50 prepaid. Also a special U.S.A.

book covering marine shells on both coasts, some land shells, invertebrates,

etc., paper bound only $1.00.

I have 25,000 species of shells in stock properly classified and sold for the

most reasonable prices. Boxes on approval and selection as often as you wish.

Shells have been my hobby since 1893 and I expect I have followed it farther

and spent more real cash on them than any one now living in this country.

Let me hear from you if you mean business.

Walter F. Webb

202 Westminster Road Rochester, N. Y.

TO ALL MUSEUMS AND COLLECTORS:

If you will send to me a Johnson check list with the specimens you espe-

cially desire checked off, or indicated, I will place your name on my "serve

in proper turn list." This will fix matters so that you may secure some

of the more rare species being turned up from time to time by The Frank

Lyman Family. Your check list will be promptly returned. Fifty per

cent discount is allowed to all Public Museums. No exchanges are made.

All specimens sent on approval. If your wants are few a letter stating

species desired will serve as well as a check list. Write today.

FRANK B. LYMAN,

Lantana, Florida

EAST COAST MARINE SHELLS

Descriptions of shore mollusks occurring from Maine to Texas together

with figures of practically every species including many from off shore sta-

tions. More than a thousand illustrations, including photographs and draw-

ings.

Edition limited to one thousand copies. Cloth bound $4.50. Orders filled

in order of receipt. Address the author:

MAXWELL SMITH,

Lantana, Florida

IV THE NAUTILUS

THE MANUAL OF CONCHOLOGY

The volume finished in 1935 completes the monograph

of the Pupillidae and their allies.

Issued quarterly in parts of which four form a volume.

Plain Edition, per vol., $15.00. Colored Edition, $20.00.

Department of Mollusca,

ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES,

PHILADELPHIA, PA.

The Largest and Finest Stock of Shells in Existence

Business established by Sowerby in 1861

SALE PURCHASE EXCHANGE

Good Adult Specimens Correctly Labelled at Moderate Prices

Our Catalogues are used by Museums and Amateurs for

Reference and as Check-Lists.

HUGH C. FULTON

(Late SOWERBY & FULTON)

27 Shaftesbury Road, London, W. 6, England

FLORIDA TREE SHELLS

FOR SALE — Collection of the late Charles A. Mosier. More than 17,000

Florida tree snails of the genus Liguus. Collected from 1911-1936, this collec-

tion cannot be duplicated. Many species extinct, many localities burned over

or destroyed. Many others where most beautiful species found are being quickly

wiped out by ardent collectors.

Contains many rare shells, including most known species and color forms of

Florida Liguus and one undescribed species. Shells in beautiful condition with

accurate localities and dates. Collection may be split equally in two parts as

to species and localities, provided buyer found for both.

If interested write

W. Donald Thomas care of Mrs. Charles Mosier

3902 NW 3rd Ave., Miami, Fla.

Vol. 52 APRIL, 1939 No. 4

TTir

NAUTILUS

A QUARTERLY £ .,,

DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF CONCHOLOGISTS

EDITORS AND PUBLISHERS

HENRY A. PILSBRY, Curator of the Department of Mollusca,

Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia

H. BURRINGTON BAKER, Associate Professor of Zoology,

University of Pennsylvania

^ /

CONTENTS

Terebra flammea Lamarck, a New Record for the United

States. By Tom L. McGinty 109

Two New Marine Shells from the Aleutian Islands. By Paul

Bartsch and Harold A. Behder 110

The Distribution of Land Mollusks of Alabama from Their

Probable Centers of Origin. By Allan F. Archer 112

Notes on Stephanoda patagonica (Suter) and the Genus Ra-

diodiscus with a New Name for R. patagonicus Pilsbry.

By G. I. Crawford 115

Atys semistriata Pease in Kaneohoe Bay, Oahu, Hawaiian

Islands. By Wm. M. Ingram 117

A New Fossil Cowry from North Carolina. By Wm. M.

Ingram 120

A New Cowry Cypraea jensostergaardi. By Wm. M.

Ingram 122

Description of a New Mollusk from California. By G.

Willett 123

Aspects of Depauperization. By Calvin Goodrich 124

Certain Mollusks of the Ogeechee River, Georgia. By Calvin

Goodrich 129

Mexican Mollusks Collected for Dr. Bryant Walker in 1926,

III. By H. Burrington Baker 132

Obituary of Professor A. E. Boycott, F.R.S. By Capt. Cyril

Diver 135

Notes and News 138

Publications Received 144

$2.00 per year ($2.15 to Foreign Countries) 50 cents a copy

HORACE B. BAKER, Business Manager

Zoological Laboratory. University of Pennsylvania,

38th and Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa.

Entered as Second-Class matter, October 29, 1932, at the Post Office at Phila-

delphia, Pa., under the Act of March 3, 1879.

11 THE NAUTILUS

THE NAUTILUS:

A Quarterly Journal devoted to the study of Mollusks, edited and pub-

lished by Heney A. Pilsbey and H. Bueeington Bakee.

Matter for publication should reach the senior editor by the first of the

month preceding the month of issue (January, April, July and October).

Typescript should be double spaced.

Eepeints are furnished at printer 's rates. Orders should be written on or

attached to first page of manuscript.

4 pp. 8 pp. 16 pp.

50 copies $3.70 5.40 7.60

100 copies 4.10 6.00 8.50

Additional 100s 75 1.20 1.80

Covers: 50 for $2.50; additional covers at the rate of $1.50 per hundred.

Plates (pasted in) : 65 cents for 50; $1.20 for 100.

The Nautilus is the official organ of the American Malacological Union.

Information regarding membership in the Union may be obtained from Mrs.

Imogene C. Robertson, Financial Secretary, Buffalo Museum of Science,

Buffalo, N. Y.

EXCHANGE NOTICES

Wanted: One dollar each will be paid for July, 1938, copies of The

Nautilus.

Hoeace B. Bakee, Zool. Lab. Univ. Penna.

Foe Exchange: Fifteen varieties, Florida tree snails (Liguus) including

three of the rare solidus, to exchange for Aehatinella, Amphidromus,

Bulimulus, Cochlostyla, Orthalicus, Porphyrobaphe and Placostylus.

Send your list to

Paul P. McGinty, Boynton, Florida.

Wanted: Back Volumes and Numbers of The Nautilus. Especially Vols.

3, 4, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24. Address

Hoeace B. Bakee, Zool. Lab., Univ. Pennsylvania.

Wanted: Pupillidae preserved in alcohol for dissection.

Peof. C. M. Steenbeeg, University of Copenhagen,

NSrregade 10, Denmark

Foe Exchange: Key West and lower Florida Keys marine and land shells.

Mrs. Maeio V. Calleja, 1117 Fleming Street,

Key West, Fla.

Exchange Notice: I exchange European land and freshwater shells and

from the territory of Poland for oversea specimens. I exchange always

(Continued on p. tit)

THE NAUTILUS 111

very good samples and I can supply the collection of the Polish forms

of land and freshwater mollusks.

Adolf Sitsch, Eadomyil nad Sanem, Lubelska 35, Poland.

Fob Exchange: European and Foreign shells (large number of recent and

tertiary sp.) offered against sp. new to me. Apply with full list to:

J. L. Staed, 123 Eue Clovis, Kheims, Marne, France.

West Coast Shells for sale or exchange. My list sent on request.

Tom Buech, 1611 South Elena Avenue,

Eedondo Beach, California

HANDBOOK FOR SHELL COLLECTORS

2,200 illustrations and descriptions, prices they are usually sold for and much

other valuable matter. How to properly clean shells, approximate number of

species under the genera treated. Price $2.50 prepaid. Also a special U.S.A.

book covering marine shells on both coasts, some land shells, invertebrates,

etc., paper bound only $1.00.

I have 25,000 species of shells in stock properly classified and sold for the

most reasonable prices. Boxes on approval and selection as often as you wish.

Shells have been my hobby since 1893 and I expect I have followed it farther

and spent more real cash on them than any one now living in this country.

Let me hear from you if you mean business.

Walter F. Webb

202 Westminster Road Rochester, N. Y.

TO ALL MUSEUMS AND COLLECTORS:

If you will send to me a Johnson check list with the specimens you espe-

cially desire cheeked off, or indicated, I will place your name on my "serve

in proper turn list." This will fix matters so that you may secure some

of the more rare species being turned up from time to time by The Frank

Lyman Family. Your check list will be promptly returned. Fifty per

cent discount is allowed to all Public Museums. No exchanges are made.

All specimens sent on approval. If your wants are few a letter stating

species desired will serve as well as a check list. Write today.

FRANK B. LYMAN,

Lantana, Florida

EAST COAST MARINE SHELLS

Descriptions of shore mollusks occurring from Maine to Texas together

with figures of practically every species including many from off shore sta-

tions. More than a thousand illustrations, including photographs and draw-

ings.

Edition limited to one thousand copies. Cloth bound $4.50. Orders filled

in order of receipt. Address the author :

MAXWELL SMITH,

Lantana, Florida

IV THE NAUTILUS

THE MANUAL OF CONCHOLOGY

The volume finished in 1935 completes the monograph

of the Pupillidae and their allies.

Issued quarterly in parts of which four form a volume.

Plain Edition, per vol., $15.00. Colored Edition, $20.00.

Department of Mollusca,

ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES,

PHILADELPHIA, PA.

The Largest and Finest Stock of Shells in Existence

Business established by Sowerby in 1861

SALE PURCHASE EXCHANGE

Good Adult Specimens Correctly ^Labelled at Moderate Prices

Our Catalogues are used by Museums and Amateurs for

Keference and as Cheek-Lists.

HUGH C. FULTON

(Late SOWERBY & FULTON)

27 Shaftesbury Road, London, W. 6, England

FLORIDA TREE SHELLS

FOB SALE — Collection of the late Charles A. Hosier. More than 17,000

Florida tree snails of the genus Liguus. Collected from 1911-1936, this collec-

tion cannot be duplicated. Many species extinct, many localities burned over

or destroyed. Many others where most beautiful species found are being quickly

wiped out by ardent collectors.

Contains many rare shells, including most known species and color forms of

Florida Liguus and one undescribed species. Shells in beautiful condition with

accurate localities and dates. Collection may be split equally in two parts as

to species and localities, provided buyer found for both.

If interested write

W. Donald Thomas care of Mrs. Charles Mosier

3903 NW 3rd Ave., Miami, Fla.

X

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