330 AMERICAN JOTJRNAr. 



Dr. Carpenter very justly remarks in his last paper, referred 

 to above, that " it would be difficult to find a more significant 

 proof of the value of microsco])ic tests than these results afford." 

 We may also add, that it would be exceedingly difficult to con- 

 ceive of a more forcible illustration of the necessity for the ut- 

 most caution in identifying specimens from distant localities, or 

 widely different geological horizons, under the same specific 

 names. If two types associated together in the same beds are 

 so exceedingly alike, that even the very highest authorities have 

 always regarded them as being specifically identical, turn out, 

 upon careful microscopical investigation, to be not only distinct 

 species, but even to belong to different genera or subgenera, how 

 much more probable is it that most, if not all, of those few forms 

 thought by some to be mere varieties of the same species, ranging 

 from the silurian to the carboniferous, or farther, Avould be found 

 specifically distinct, if we could only know all the details of their 

 anatomical structure, now forever lost through agency of the 

 process of fossilization ? 



Note on Assiminea Francesia. By Dr. J. E. Gray. 



On the species of the genera Latiaxis, Faunus and Melana- 

 tria. By Dr. J. E. Gray. 



Latiaxis Mairce and L. p)urpurata, and L. pagoda, textilis, 

 Fugenice and nodosa, are respectively said to belong to two spe- 

 cies only. 



Faunus ater, terehralis, Cantori and pagoda, are asserted to 

 belong to one species. 



3Iela7iatria fiuminea and plicata are only varieties o^ M. spi- 

 nosa. " A scries of specimens from the same locality show the 

 variations in the surface on which these dealers' species are pro- 

 fessed to be distinguished, which should be treated as the names 

 given to flowers by nurserymen and florists are by the botanist, 

 as they are scarcely worthy the attention of the scientific con- 

 chologist. The effect of this needless multiplication of names 

 has been to almost entirely prevent conchology being studied as 

 a science." 



No. 116. August, 1867. 



On Waldheimia venosa, Solander, sp. By Thomas David- 

 son. 



On the Occurrence of Diplomniatina Huttoni in Trinidad. 

 By R. J. Lechmere Guppy. 



This is the second Indian Land Shell found inhabiting the 

 West Indies, — the other species being Fnnea hicolor. As it is 



