196 Mr. G. B. Sowerby's observations 



work, an explanation of such facts and circumstances as have occured to 

 me, the tendency of which is to correct its errors and to add to the number of 

 species and consequently to the published information upon the subject. 

 However, before I proceed I beg to remark that it is not my intention to 

 enter upon an account of those species that are given in English authors, 

 but omitted by Deshayes. 



Spec. 1 and 2, D. elephantinum and arcuatum. 

 It is unfortunate for the justly celebrated Linne that he is frequently 

 called to answer for the errors of others, and particularly of Gmelin the 

 editor of the 13th. edition of Sy sterna Natures, and it is equally unfortu- 

 nate for Deshayes that he should have consulted this very 13th. edition 

 and thus have lost sight of the true characters of the Dentalium elephan- 

 tinum of Linne. Upon referring to Linne's 12th edition I find " Den- 

 talium elephantinum, testa decem-angulata, subarcuata, striata; and the 

 two principal figures he quotes, are Gualtieri, tab. x. f. i. and Rumphius, 

 tab. xli. f. i. the description agreeing perfectly with Deshayes' s D. arcua- 

 tum, and the figures being both quoted by Deshayes under that species. 

 It is true that Linne also refers toPetiver, Amb. t. xvi. f. xxxiii. and Pet., 

 Gaz. t. xiii. f. ix. as well as to Bonan. Recr. 1 . t. viii., all which figures are 

 by Deshayes referred to his elephantinum: which proves evidently that 

 Linne did not distinguish the two species : nevertheless as the description 

 is decidedly that of Deshayes' s D. arcuatum, the Linnean name of 

 D. elephantinum must be restored to that species, and the D, elephanti- 

 num of Deshayes might with propriety be called D. rectum, 



3. D. sexangulare. 



One observation made by M. Deshayes under this species shows, either 

 that he does not understand the English language, or that he has com- 

 mitted a very gross mistake. In order to show this, I shall transcribe the 

 observation, together with the English passage which has elicited it: — 

 " On doit etre surpris que M, Sowerby ait confondu cette espkce avec le 

 " RECURVUM * dans son Genera, car elle est trks facile d distinguer,^^ 

 Deshayes, p. 30. 



The following passage, transcribed from ray Genera will, however, 



* M. Deshayes evidently intends his own D. arcuatum, the true elephantinum 

 of Linn6. 



