vot. .] Miocene Shell in the Living State. 71 
identified in the fossil state though there are two examples of this 
shell mixed with the set of M. perpinguzs in the State Survey coll. 
at Berkeley and are labelled Santa Barbara. In the State Survey col- 
lection of fossils there are two shells from the Pliocene of Fernando, 
Los Angeles County, these shells are WV. californiana but are 
named J. perpinguis. Good specimens occur in the D. O. Mills 
collection at Berkeley but are labelled NV. perpinguzs instead ot 
californiania, they are from the Post Pliocene of San Pedro, Cal. 
N. californiana is in D. O. Mills’ coll. as NM. fossata from the Plio- 
cene or Miocene of Soquel, Santa Cruz County, California. 
The confusion in the classification of the above was in part due 
to the bleached and the partially effaced condition of the examples, 
but much more to the terseness of the original description together 
with the caricature of a figure as given in P. R.R. Rep., vol. vi, p. 
69; pl. 11, fig. 1. Then not forgetting the misleading injunction 
that the species had some relation to cancel/aria there is every ex- 
cuse for not making out the type. A figure and description are now 
_ given. 
Description: Generally ventricose; cancellate; slightly tabulate 
on the upper portion of the whorls ‘near the suture; where the re- 
volving ribs cross the longitudinal ribs there occurs a considerable 
5 nodule; body whorl with about ten prominent re- 
volving ribs and with about three less ,conspicuous 
at the base; the basal channel ceases just before 
reaching the columella; the inner lip obsolete on 
the columella; columella smooth without teeth 
or tubercles; outer lip strongly sinuate with the 
extreme edge crenate. Whorls of the spire about 
five. Ground color white; revolving ribs purplish 
brown; epidermis yellowish white; varieties occur 
- with omission of color in some of the revolving ribs which gives 
a faint pattern of banding. Length 30 mm.; width rr mm.; spire 
10mm. Dredged in Drake’s Bay in 25 fathoms. 
Of all the American Massas it is most like t#ivitfata Say, but is 
very much larger though not so compact. The European N. rett- 
cosa, a Tettiary shell, has a deal of the aspect of WV. californiana. 
The discovery of this shell in the living state brings back to life 
a species that had been considered entirely extinct. This mollusk 
like all other things continues by virtue of favorable conditions. 
