THE NAUTILUS. 87 



Disregarding the interrupted character of the septa, Hyriopsis 

 stands rather close to the European Unio, but, of course, we do 

 not know whether there is any relation in the glochidia. Alto- 

 gether, Hyriopsis represents a type, probably most closely related to 

 Gonidea, and undoubtedly belonging to the subfamily Unioninae. 

 It surely does not belong to the Lampsilinae, 



CONSISTENCY IN POPULAR NAMES OF SHELLS. 



BY CHARLES W. JOHNSON. 



I have recently rearranged the exhibition of New England 

 raollusks in the museum of the Boston Society of Natural His- 

 tory, the object being to make it more attractive and of general 

 interest to the public. Trays were abandoned and the specimens 

 placed on three large white tablets which cover the entire surface 

 of each of the horizontal cases (2^ ft. x 5 ft.). Of these cases 

 there are twelve, with drawers below for the large stud} 7 series. 

 Specimens preserved in fluid are removed from exhibition and 

 replaced by colored drawings of the animals, either natural size 

 or enlarged according to the size of the species. These beauti- 

 ful drawings were made from the living animal by Mr. J. 

 Henry Blake. The Society also possesses a series of the glass 

 models of the Nudibranches made vears ago bv the Blaschkas. 



J */ 



Small maps of New England, both land and marine areas, on 

 which are marked the localities or areas covered by those species 

 having a limited or restricted distribution, are placed with the 

 species. 



This brings us to a question of popular interest, that is, the 

 common names for the more conspicuous shells. The many 

 changes in nomenclature affecting the old, classic, scientific 

 names are a serious handicap towards popularizing conchology; 

 and to attempt to explain why these changes are necessary is 

 not the most enjoyable theme in conchological circles. It there- 

 fore seems expedient that some fixed, appropriate, popular 

 name should be applied to the more common species. There 

 have been some excellent names proposed by Dr. Alfred G. 



