80 THE NAUTILUS. 



ISAAC LEA DEPARTMENT. 



[Conducted in the interest of the Isaac Lea Conchological Chapter of the Agassiz Associa- 

 tion by its General Secretary, Mrs. M. Burton Williamson.] 



For the benefit of our new members I will say that while the 

 Popular Science A/ews is the official organ of the Agassiz Associa- 

 tion, THE NAUTILUS is the official organ of our Conchological 

 Chapter. 



Please bear in mind the annual reports and dues are to be sent 

 in next month. This department is made up from the reports of 

 our members. Let us make this year's volume of Transactions the 

 best we have ever had. 



The volume when last heard from had just been forwarded by 

 Mr. Hilles Smith to Mr. James H. Lemon, Toronto, Ontario. The 

 book has " gone the rounds " rather slowly this year. 



COLLECTING DURING THE SUMMER OF '96. 



[Extract from the report of Mr. H. Howe. From the Transactions of the Isaac Lea 

 Chapter for 1896]. 



During the summer months I collected around San Pedro and 

 Long Beech. A very pretty and rather rare shell is the Aetceon 

 pniictoccelatus Cpr., commonly called the "barrel shell." It may 

 be found alive during June, July and August, at the roots of the 

 eel-grass where it comes to breed. The eggs are almost microscopic 

 and are laid in coiled masses about one inch in length, which is 

 twice the size of the entire Mollusk shell and all. The Actceon 

 (also called Eidaxis) lives in deep water and can only be collected 

 during the breeding season. 



In August I made a trip to Anaheim Landing in company with 

 a friend, also a collector. As the low tide occured at four o'clock 

 in the morning (and we live about ten miles away) we had to start 

 at two o'clock in the morning. On arriving at our collecting 

 ground we set to work and soon had excavated several fine 

 Glycimeris generosa and Sehizothcerus Nuttalli. These are about 

 the hardest shells to collect that I know of, for they live from two 

 to three feet down in the mud. In the soft clay we dug out some 

 fine Pholas pacifica and Zirphcea crispata, Bidla nebnlosa and Pecten 

 (iijidsulcatus, were very large and plentiful. At this place I found 

 my first live Nassa perpinguis. When hunting for the burrows of 



