No. 4.] DAWSON — POST-PLIOCENE. 379 



Astarte Laurentiana, Lyell. 



Fossil — Leda clay, Montreal, abundant; Beauport and Riviere- 

 du-Loup, rare. 



Recent — Grreenland (Morch) ; Labrador (Packard) ; Murray 

 Bay. 



This shell may be a variety of the next species; but it is at 

 least a very distinct varietal form. It is distinguished by its 

 very fine and uniform concentric striation, passing to the ends of 

 the valves and to the ventral margin. There are two varieties, a 

 flatter, and more tumid. I have the former from Greenland 

 named by Morch A. Banhsii, and the latter named A. striata ; 

 but they are different from shells indicated by these names in 

 Gould and elsewhere. The only recent specimens that I have 

 seen from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which can be referred to 

 this species, are a few I dredged at Murray Bay, A. Lauren- 

 tiana is very abundant at Montreal, but much more rare nearer 

 the coast. It is evidently an Arctic form. (See Figure.) 



Astarte BanJcsii, Leach. 



Fossil — Leda clay, Riviere-du-Loup, abundant; Quebec, not 

 infrequent ; Montreal, very rare ; Labrador (Packard) ; Portland, 

 Maine, also Uddevalla, Clyde beds and Crag. 



Recent — Abundant at Gaspe and elsewhere in Gulf of St. 

 Lawrence, and also Arctic seas and coast of Nova Scotia. 



This shell is that named A Banksii, in Gould's last edition, 

 also in Beechey's voyages. It is easily distinguished from the 

 last species by its coarser striation, fading toward the ends 

 and also toward the margin of the shell. It is however about 

 the same size, but less delicate and symmetrical in form. It is the 

 common small Astarte of the Gulf St, Lawrence, and also of the 

 Post-pliocene of Riviere-du-Loup ; but becomes very rare at 

 Montreal, where it is replaced by A. Laurentiana. This species 

 was named A. compressa in my former lists, and it is certainly 

 very near to European specimens of that species, especially to the 

 fossils from the Clyde beds and the Crag. (See Figure.) 



Astarte EUiptica, Brown. 



Fossil — Labrador ; Saguenay ; Portland, Maine. 



Recent — Labrador ; Murray Bay ; Gaspe ; coast of Nova 

 &c. Also Greenland ; Norway (typical) ; Scotland. 



Specimens from the Clyde beds are perfectly identical with 

 ours. It is also found in the Post-pliocene of Norway and rarely 



