THE NAUTILUS. 83 



While the membership includes a number of distinguished pro- 

 fessional scientific men, it also includes members who make no 

 pretensions to scientific training, but from one point of view or 

 another, find common ground in their interest in, and love of, 

 shells. In recognition of this varied membership it has been 

 sought to make the meetings of varied character. Some even- 

 ings have been devoted chiefly to technical papers; others to a 

 comparative study, exhibition and exchange of shells. The 

 meetings are held monthly from October to April. 



Among the important papers given during the year were: 

 one by Dr. Hervy W. Shirner on the very interesting semi-fos- 

 sil mollusks from the subway excavation in the Back Bay, Bos- 

 ton, based on the same material from which the Secretary has 

 described a new Vitrinella; one by Professor R. T. Jackson on 

 stages of growth in the Mollusca, particularly Nautilus and Hin- 

 nites, illustrating the recapitulation theory; one by Dr. P. E. 

 Raymond discussing the probable cause of the peculiar double- 

 looped beak sculpture of the Naiades, which we found to be in 

 the tooth or spur of the glochidial embryo; one by Professor E. 

 S. Morse on the differences between shells from shell mounds 

 and their living local descendants, which differences he found to 

 be very appreciable, and singularly constant in trend not only in 

 New England, but in Japan and (so far as investigated) in Europe. 



In June the club held its first field meeting, making an ex- 

 cursion to the varied shores of Cohasset which, if not produc- 

 tive of any novelties, was, at least, well attended, much en- 

 joyed, and the occasion of some interesting observations. 

 WILLIAM F. CLAPP, Secretary. 



NOTES. 



Mrs. T. S. Oldroyd, of this city, will leave for Oakland to- 

 morrow on the Beaver, having been summoned north to arrange, 

 classify, and pack away, preparatory to their display, more 

 than 1000 shell specimens that are valued at $6,000. This 

 collection was recently bequeathed to the California Academy 

 of Science, San Francisco, by the late Henry Hemphill, who, 

 while alive, was considered the dean of shell collectors. Los 

 Angeles Tribune, Sept. 30. 



