52 



THE NAUTILUS. 



bles, all the generic characteristics as set forth by the earliest 

 writers on this type of the mollusks agree (Bang, 1829 ; Gould, 

 1852; Pease, I860; Cooper, 1863; Alder and Hancock, 1864; 

 De Filippi, 1867; Tapparone-Canefri, 1876; and Fewkes, 

 1889; as well as the numerous descriptions of Bergh, 1863- 

 1908). The discovery of the genus Melibe by Rang (1829) 

 seems to have been unknown to Gould (1852) who created a 

 new genus (Chioraera) for this type. Cooper (1863) and 

 Fewkes (1889) employed the nomenclature of Gould. The 

 generic characteristics as enunciated by the original author 

 for Melibe (Rang, 1829) are practically identical with those 

 set forth by Gould twenty-three years later for Chioraera. 

 Tryon, Jr., (1883) p. 382, without stating a reason, classifies 

 Chioraera as synonym of Melibe. Owing to the fact that 

 Gould, and Cooper were ignorant of the actual discovery of 

 the genus Melibe, the name Chioraera was invented by Gould 

 and subsequently used by Cooper. The name is, in fact, a 

 mythical term that is related in meaning to the former ; and 

 neither, of course, is descriptive of the form to which it be- 

 longs. Bergh (1904) describing a species from the territory 

 of Gould, Cooper, and Fewkes, does not hesitate to employ the 

 nomenclature of Rang (1829), so similar is this form to the 

 Melibes from other parts of the world. No other author 

 except Bergh gives mandibles as a generic characteristic, and 

 this feature, as stated above, is not observed by Rang ( 1829 ) , 

 Gould (1852), Pease (1860), Cooper (1863), De Filippi 

 (1867), Tapparone-Canefri (1876), and Fewkes (1889). Al- 

 though MeUbe Rang (1829) and Chioraera Gould (1852) dif- 

 fer somewhat in shape, they are very similar in most other 

 respects; Rang's description is as follows: 



' ' Anim. pelagien, gelatineux, transparent et lirnacif orme ; 

 la tete distincte et comprenant uu voile membraneux, con- 

 tourne en fore d'entonnoir, garni interieurement de cirrhes 

 diriges a I'exterieur, et du milieu duquel s'eleve une petite 

 trompe terminee par la bouche ; tentacules au nombre de deux, 

 situes a la base du voile, tres allonges, coniques, termines par 

 une petite capsule, de laquelle port un organe conique et 

 retractile; pied aussi long que 1'animal, mais extremement 



