THE NAUTILUS. 



VOL. ix. NOVEMBER, 1895. No. 7 



ON DOLABELLA CALIFORNICA STEARNS. 



BY HENRY A. PILSBRY. 



The genus Dolabella has long been known as an inhabitant of 

 the Indian Ocean and Polynesia, but it had not been reported from 

 American waters until Sowerby described the shell of I), guayaquil- 

 ensis, from Guayaquil, in 1868. 



In 1879 Dr. R. E. C. STEARNS described a D. aaliforniea from 

 Mulege Bay, Gulf of California, but unfortunately the shells only 

 were available for his study. They were found by Mr. "\V. J. Fisher 

 "in pools left by the tide" at the locality named. 



Part of the specimens collected by Fisher were secured by Mr. W. 

 N. Lockington, and presented to the Academy, in alcohol ; so I am 

 enabled to give below a description of the animal of this interesting 

 addition to the West Coast fauna, which proves to be nearest allied 

 to A. tony ana and ecaudata, Polynesian species. 



The dentition of Dolabella is excessively peculiar, and together 

 with the unusual position of the genital orifice, necessitates the for- 

 mation of a new subfamily, Dolabellince, for this genus. 

 D. californica Stearns. 



Description of alcoholic specimens: Length 12 to 14 cm. 

 Oblong-ovate, broadly rounded behind, Aplysia-like in front. Buc- 

 cal tentacles ear-like, short and folded about at the middle, not pro- 

 duced toward the mouth ; tentacles conic and slit ; the very minute 



