244 Remarks on the Ifnio Sai/ii and Unio Camptodon. 



in the dredge from the depth of fourteen feet. Somatogyrus depresm^, 

 Tryon, I also found at a depth of twenty feet. Amnicola Cincin- 

 raitimsis, Anth., I dredged from the same localities as the two former 

 species. There is some doubt, however, whether this is that or a new 

 species. Of the family Strepomatidce,, so prolific in species south of the 

 Ohio river, and so interesting to the naturalist on account of its varied 

 forms, we have but two representatives in this section ; they are Try. 

 i>uhidare, Lea, and Gon. livcscens, Menke. Both are diminutive in size 

 compared with those fr(.m other localities. The depth and semi-stag- 

 iiancy of the waters, and unfavorable food, are undoubtedly the cause 

 of this. Sp/ia'Hinns are very abundant at all depths. 'Among them 

 are Sph. simile, Say; Sph. partumeiam, Say; Spjli. transvermm, Say. 

 We have the following Pisidiums : P. ahditmn, Prime., and P. com- 

 pressiim, Prime. The family Unionida'. furnishes the following species : 

 U. cormitus, Barnes; U. gracilis, Barnes; U. gibhosus, Barnes; IT. 

 luieolns, Laui. ; U. occidens, Lea; U. rectus, Lam.; U. pustrdosm, 

 Lea; U. pusiidatns, lueix ; U. ruhiginosus, Lea; U. elegans, Lea; U. 

 undulatus, Barnes ; U. verrucosus, Barnes ; U. ellipsis. Lea ; U. tuber- 

 cidafus, Barnes. In the subgenus Margnritana, we have 31. com- 

 planata, Barnes. Of Anodontas: Ano. Jootiana,Liea,; Ano. imbecillis. 

 Say; Ano. p>lana, Lea. The foregoing embraces the species collected 

 by myself within the last four years. The bivalves are so common and 

 well known that they present few points of interest. The univalves 

 are likely to prove most interesting from the diversity of form in 

 described species, which has occasioned numerous synonyms. The 

 enormous synonomy of American shells is well known. Take, for 

 instance, the genus Succinea and Physa. When every part of the 

 country shall have been thoroughly worked up, and suits of shells have 

 undergone the analysis of study and comparison, we shall have a 

 ireneral loeeding out of superfluous species. This process will leave but 

 a small number, comparatively, entitled to a permanent place in the 

 catalogue. Such a work might bring dismay to species-makers, but 

 would be for the lasting benefit of conchology, and save the future 

 investigator much labor and ])erplexity. 



Remarks on Unio Sayii and Unio Camptodon, before the Cincinnati Society 

 of Natural History, at the Meeting in May. By Dr. C. A. Miller. 



1 desire to offer a few remarks this evening upon conchological nom- 



enclaturef l->ut more especially upon Unio Camptodon, Say, and it^ 



