10 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.79 



print for A. crispata. The dates and authors of early vohimes of the 

 Encyclopedie are confused. Brugiiiere died before he could prepare 

 the explanation of the plates of the part prepared by him, and this 

 work later was done by Bory St. Vincent. Sherborn and Woodward * 

 explain the dates of this publication. 



So far as Anodontites crispata is concerned the Encyclopedie is of 

 no importance except for Lamarck's reference in his description to 

 Bruguiere's figures 3a and 3b, and future students of this species 

 may well dismiss it from consideration. 



As shown by Simpson's synonymy of A. crispata, given above, the 

 collection of the United States National Museum contains a number 

 of specimens arranged under that name. Only one of them is really 

 crispata. It is No. 86402 from Cayenne, French Guiana, and was 

 received by Isaac Lea from Baron Ferussac. Although sure 

 that this specimen was A. crispata, to make assurance doubly sure 

 the aid of the Paris Museum was sought in an effort to locate Bru- 

 guiere's type. The location of the type is unknown, but Professor 

 Lamy sent notes that are of special interest. He says : 



The only specimen of Anodonta cri-wotn, which is found mentioned in a cata- 

 logue of our collections mat'e towards 1835, is the individual described by 

 Lamarck in the Hist, des Anim. S. Vert., vol. VI, first part, page 86, figure 3a-b 

 of pb'.te 203 " of the Encyclopedie Methodique. Consequently, from that period 

 (1835) there was no trace here of the type of Bruguiere. That specimen of 

 Lamarck still exists in our collections, accompanied by a label written in 

 Lamarck's hand, "Anodonte crepue, A. crispata," and by another behind it 

 with this statement: "Cayenne? from the Voyage of Capt. Baudin." It can 

 not therefore refer to the type of Bruguiere dating from 1792, as tl^e Eaudin 

 Expedition was in 1801. 



In view of the relations which existed between Bruguierq and Lamarck, it 

 is possible that the latter*, who certainly must have seen the type of the former, 

 borrov.ed the name cfispata from him ; but that is not to be found stated 

 anywhere. 



Later Professor Lamy had photographs on an enlarged scale made 

 at my request to show the sculpture and interior of that specimen of 

 A. crispata, and they prove conclusively that our specimen (No. 

 86402) is that species. So far as known to me our specimen and the 

 one in the Paris Museum are the only two still in existence that 

 have received careful study. 



Because of the fact that A. crispata lies at the root of (he study 

 of South American naiades; the injustice and errors that have at 

 tended its stormy career, and the ease of offering more accurate 



8 On tl-.e dates of the Encyclopedie Methodique (.Zoology). Proc. Zool. Soe. London, 

 1893. pp. 582-584 ; 1899, p. 595. 



» Lamnrck referred to pi. 203, figs 3a-b, but they are copies of Bruguiftie's original 

 figures and, consequently, could not have been made from the specimen now in the Paris 

 Museum. — w. B. M. 



