172 BULLETIN OF THE 



any of the known species, and it seemed best to put it on record by giving it a 

 name. Its nearest relative is Fusus pulchellus Philippi, of the Mediterranean, 

 from which its most obvious distinction lies in its lighter color, more delicate 

 texture, and the peculiar bevel of the upper surface of the whorls. In F. pul- 

 chellus the whorls are rounded and full, and the spiral sculpture coarser and 

 sharper. 



Subfamily FASCIOLARIIN^E. 



Genus FASCIOLARIA Lamarck. 

 Fasciolaria distans Lamarck. 



Two young shells were dredged off Sombrero, in 54 fms. 



The more southern specimens of this shell are paler than those from the 

 United States. A specimen received from Balize is almost destitute of re- 

 volving color lines and is of a very pale salmon-color. The species is perfectly 

 distinct from any of the varieties of F. tulipa. 



Subgenus MESORHYTIS Meek. 



Mesorhytis Meek, Inv. Pal. Upper Missouri, pp. 356, 364, 1876 ; type, Fasciolaria 

 gracilentis Meek ; Cret. 



Mesorhytis Meekiana n. s. 



Plate XXXVI. Fig. 7. 



Shell elongate-fusiform, thin, pale waxen or brownish, glossy; nucleus blunt, 

 globose, of about one whorl ; other whorls seven or more, little rounded, the 

 second, third, and fourth showing 8-10 sharp high transverse ribs, a little 

 shouldered behind, and crossed by fine spiral threads and grooves most distinct 

 on the posterior side of the whorl; one of the threads is stronger than the 

 others and angulates the ribs in crossing them; the sculpture becomes obsolete 

 or nearly so on succeeding whorls, the fine distant grooves persisting longest ; 

 specimens differ in this respect ; usually the succeeding whorls are smooth except 

 for incremental lines, appressed toward the suture and with a little fine spiral 

 grooving on the canal; aperture elongated, acute behind; outer lip smooth, 

 thin, and sharp; canal about half as wide and nearly as long as the aperture, 

 slightly recurved; columella without callus, somewhat flexuous ; at its middle 

 are three plaits, the largest being posterior, very thin, elevated, and somewhat 

 oblique. Lon. of shell, 15.5; of aperture, 9.0; max. lat. of shell, 5.0 mm. 



Habitat. Off Morro Light, Cuba, 250-400 fms.; Gulf of Mexico, Station 

 16, 292 fms., and Station 20, in 220 fms., bottom temperature 62°.0 F. 

 Though not containing the soft parts, the specimens were fresh, and probably 

 lived at these depths. They seem not completely mature. 



