MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 259 



Crassatella (Eriphyla) parva C. B. Adams. 



Crassatella (Eriphyla) parva (C. B. Adams, 1845), Dall, Bull. M. C. Z., IX. p. 131, 



1881. 

 C, Martinicensis D'Orbigny + C. guadalupensis, D'Orbigny, 1846. 



Habitat. Martinique, Jamaica, St. Domingo, Cuba, St. Thomas (D'Orb.) ; 

 Cuba (Pfr.) ; Jamaica (Adams) ; Station 21, 287 fms. (Blake exp.). 



After the examination of a great many specimens from all paits of the An- 

 tilles, I am driven to the conclusion that both of D'Orbigny's species are 

 identical with the present one, the distinctions being entirely within the range 

 of its variation. Krebs, an excellent observer, came to the conclusion, a good 

 many years ago, that the two species of the Mollusq^ues de Cuba were the 

 same. 



Family ASTARTID^. 



GeNCS ASTARTE J. SOWERBT. 



There are several species referable to this genus in the Gulf of Mexico and 

 adjacent waters, mostly quite small, and having a tendency to coloration in the 

 inside of the valves. The viviparous subgenus Parastarte is also indigenous 

 to the shallower waters of this latitude. It too is brightly colored, and has a 

 vernicose epidermis. 



Two species or forms were obtained by the " Blake," one abundantly and at 

 various depths; the other, in but one haul, and only one or two specimens. Of 

 the latter, however, the U. S. Fish Commission has obtained valves at numer- 

 ous stations, and not any of the other species ; so curiously checkered is the 

 luck of the dredger. In connection with the identification of the species I 

 have carefully examined the large series in the Jeffreys collection, and have 

 had the advantage of the criticism of Mr. E. A. Smith, who recently mono- 

 graphed this difficult group. I have decided to give names to these Gulf 

 forms, not because I am certain that they represent permanent immutable 

 entities, if such things exist, but because they differ in a diagnosable way from 

 anything I can find named. The most hardened believer in the immutability 

 of species, after an encounter with a large collection of Astartes, would prob- 

 ably be content with permission to retire in good order from the field, with 

 bag and baggage, without any request that drums or fifes should announce his 

 movements to the rest of mankind. 



Astarte Smithii, n. s. 



Plate \"II. Fiers. 5 a, 6 b. 



Shell small, belonging to the group of A. sulcata, having a squarish globose 

 form, crenated margin, and pale brownish epidermis. The exterior is concen- 



