MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 187 



of the genus, as follows: Anachis, Astyris, Nitidella, JEsopus, and Conidea. 

 There is no doubt that the number of subdivisions in this group has been mul- 

 tiplied in excess of the needs of science or the indications of nature, while 

 several subdivisions of importance have not been recognized. Even the above 

 mentioned groups, or at least the first three of them, are connected closely by 

 intermediate species. On the other hand, such a remarkable form as C. turtu- 

 rina Duclos, with internal plaits as pronounced as in Turbinella, has not been 

 separated. For it I propose the sectional name of Euplica. 



Subgenus ANACHIS H. & A. Adams. 

 Anachis avara Say. 

 Columbella avara Say, Journ. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., II. p. 230, 1822. 



This abundant and well-known shell extends from Massachusetts Bay to 

 Cape Florida, always in shallow water. It is found in the Miocene of Mary- 

 land and Virginia (Conrad), and the Pliocene and Post Pliocene of the more 

 southern coast. The variety translirata has been collected on the coast of 

 Yucatan, but I have seen no specimens from the Antilles. Notwithstanding 

 the common occurrence of this species, its range and typical form have not 

 been very clearly realized by conchologists, judging from the labels of specimens 

 received from many different sources. 



The type is rather small, dull-colored, smooth, few (10) ribbed and spindle- 

 shaped. Longer slender greenish specimens with these characters form the 

 Floridian variety semiplicata of Stearns ; many-ribbed acute bright-colored 

 specimens are the (var.) translirata of Eavenel, more commonly regarded as 

 the typical form of the species, as it is the most common, largest, and wide- 

 spread; the dwarf form common to all species of Columbella, especially in this 

 subgenus, is C. similis Ravenel, which is almost distinct enough to rank as a 

 species, but differs only in size from var. translirata. It extends from Cape 

 Fear to Yucatan, the Florida Keys, and probably to Cuba. I have seen no 

 Antillean specimens. 



Among the absolute synonyms of this species are C. terpsichore Greene, 

 Columbella Gouldii Reeve (Conch. Icon., XXII. fig. 135), not Stimpson, and 

 Fusus minor Holmes (Post Pliocene, S. Carolina). 



Specimens dredged at New Bedford, Mass., had the foot long and slender, 

 square cut in front, a little indented in the median line, linguiform behind. 

 The tentacles are contractile, not sharp-pointed, but quite slender when extended, 

 the eyes small, black, extending laterally without any peduncle at the outer 

 bases of the tentacles. The siphon is rather large, subcylindric, without ap- 

 pendages, about one third as long as the foot, the proboscis more slender, taper- 

 ing, and about the same length when fully protruded. The verge is sickle- 

 shaped, slender, sharply pointed, flattened, and with its outer edge sharp. It is 

 thrown back above the neck, the point lying at the right of the base under the 



