THE NAUTILUS. 



VOL. XXX. JULY, 1916. No. 3 



NOTES ON THE WEST AMERICAN COLUMBELLIDAE. 



BY WILLIAM HEALEY BALL. 



During the arrangement of the Columbellidae from the West 

 Coast of America in the collection of the National Museum it 

 was found that a number of the names needed revision, and 

 several other notes were made which may be useful to students 

 pending the preparation of a general manual of the mollusks of 

 this region. 



The genus usually known as Meta Reeve, or Conella of H. and 

 A. Adams (but not of Swainson), is in need of a new name, 

 for Reeve's Meta of 1859 is preoccupied by Koch for a well- 

 known genus of spiders since 1835. I propose for it the new 

 name Parametaria. 



The large series at my disposal shows that the differences 

 used by Reeve to split up these shells into species are not of 

 specific value, some specimens having a rounded, others an 

 angulate or keeled shoulder ; &c, &c. It is not improbable 

 that there is really but one species. For it the earliest name is 

 " Conus" dupontii Kiener, 1850, which will supersede Reeve's 

 name of cedonulli given in 1859. It is positively known only 

 from the Gulf of California and adjacent regions. 



Columbella f estiva Kiener, 1841 (not of De Laborde, 1830) 

 from the vicinity of Cape St. Lucas and south to Panama, may 

 take the name of C. lucasana. 



Columbella terpsichore Sowerby, 1822, and C. lyrata Sowerby, 

 1832, are identical. 



Columbella (Anachis) parva Sowerby, 1844, being preoccupied 



