lOG BULLETIN OF THE 



cabinets have led authors to suspect. V. cardiiformis (= V. verticordia) has 

 sixteen ribs ; V. acuticostata, thirteen to fifteen ; V. Deshayesiana, seventeen; 

 my specijuens have I'roui fourteen to seventeen ribs, which may be stronger or 

 weaker, finely or more sharply granulated, more or less markedly denticulate 

 on the margin. 



The descriptions of Mr. Adams are quite insufficient to identify any species 

 by. No measurements are given, the number of ribs is not even stated, and 

 the only dilferences of any value between his diagnoses of the two forms he 

 names are, that one is " convexa " with " costis multis subdistantibus," while 

 the other is " subcompressa " with " costis numerosis confertis.'' Such de- 

 scriptions are rubbish, and a detriment to the progress of science. Yet the fact 

 that they are in Latin gives them for some " conservative " writers a great 

 charm, though they are perfectly useless for any practical purpose. 



Verticordia Fischeriana n. s. 



Shell of the same general form as V. verticordia Wood, or V. Deshayesiana 

 Fischer, from which it diff'ers in the number of ribs, which range from 27 to 

 35, being subequal with equal interspaces, and which merely crenulate the 

 marf^in instead of extending beyond it in sharp denticulate points ; the lunule 

 is less impressed than in either of the preceding species ; from V. granulata it 

 diff'ers by the larger number of ribs and by its striated and granulose lunule ; 

 also by its more quadrate or subcircular rather than triangular form ; the 

 granulation, however, is regular and even, as in that species, which is only 

 known from a single valve found in the Sicilian tertiaries. Lon., 10.0 ; alt., 

 10.5 ; diam., 10.5 mm. Most of the specimens smaller. Barbados, 100 fms.; 

 Sigsbee, off Cuba, 119 fms.; Station 36, 84 fms. 



The granulated, non-pearly surface, the nacreous under-layer, the peculiar 

 disposition and character of the teeth and ligament (first correctly described by 

 Seguenza), the transverse costse, the simple pallial line and peculiar muscular 

 scars (of which there are four in each valve), are generic characters. Hippagus 

 of Lea, long confounded with this genus, may prove to be a Crenella like 

 C. decussata. I am pleased to be able to dedicate this species to the author who 

 first brought order out of confusion in the complex synonymy of this genus ; 

 who is, moreover, one of the first living malacologists. 



Verticordia elegantissima n. a. 



Euciroa elegantissima Dall, Bull. M. C. Zool., V. pp. 61, 62, July, 1878 (named but 



not described.) 



Shell large, solid, frosty white externally, internally very pearly, inequilat- 

 eral, slightly inequivalve, Cytherea-shaped, furnished with many scabrous, 

 granulated, slightly elevated radiating costse, of which one, forming the ante- 

 rior boundary of the posterior fourth of the shell, is mort prominent, and is 



