MARINE MOLLUSKS — MACGINITIE 117 



as that of the shell above and, except for the carina at the periphery 

 of the last whorl, the same as that of Ball's type of B. malleatus. 

 This shell can be referred to B. stimpsoni var, stimpsoni. 



The specimens in the U. S. National Museum vary in the number 

 of sides, in the presence or absence of a carina at the periphery, in 

 color, and in the degree of concavity between the ribs. Depending 

 on the age of the shell, there are from 2 to 4, more or less flattened, 

 spiral cords posterior to the carina or periphery of the last whorl. 

 In some shells (especially in young specimens) the aperture is longer 

 than the remainder of the shell. 



Distribution: From Point Barrow to the Pribilofs. Living 

 specimens have not been reported previously from Point Barrow. 



Beringius beringi (Middendorfif, 1849) 

 And var. kobelti Dall 



Plate 12, figures 1-6 



Trilonium (Fusus) behringii Middendorff, 1849a, p. 243; 1849c, pt. 2, p. 147 



pi. 3, figs. 5, 6; 1849d, pt. 2, p. 476, pi. 3, figs. 5, 6. 

 Volutopsius (beringii Midd. var.?) kohelti Dall, 1902, p. 528, pi. 35, fig. 2. 

 Volutopsius beringi Dall, 1921, p. 89.— Oldroyd, 1927, pt. 1, p. 186. 

 Volutopsius beringi kobelti Dall, 1921, p. 89.— Oldroyd, 1927, pt. 1, p. 187, pi. 23, 



fig. 2. 



Eleven living specimens were dredged at 9 stations: 1 (49.2 mm. 

 high) at 40 feet at Eluitkak Pass on Aug. 10, 1948; 1 (25 mm. high) 

 at 120 feet on Aug. 8, 1949; 1 (20 mm.) at 152 feet; 2 (29.2 mm. and 

 32.7 mm.) at 184 feet; 3 (38.8 mm., 45.7 mm., and 64.8 mm. — the 

 largest livmg one collected) at 216 feet; 1 (10.8 mm.) at 217 feet; 

 and 2 (24.6 mm. and 45.2 mm.) at 522 feet. Several dead shells 

 ranging from 21.4 to 73 mm. in height were taken from depths of 80 

 to 453 feet. The one dead shell from 80 feet was inhabited by a 

 hermit crab Pagurus trigonocheirus. Another dead shell, apparently 

 a typical B. beringi, from 453 feet measures 123 mm. in height even 

 without the missing nucleus; it is about 64 mm. in diameter. Even 

 in the living shells, the whorls of the spire are eroded and the perio- 

 stracum is missing, but the major portion of the last whorl is covered 

 by a thin, straw-colored periostracum. 



Other material examined: Over 40 specimens (under the name 

 of Volutopsius beringi kobelti Dall) from localities ranging from Icy 

 Cape to the Shumagins. 



Discussion: I did not have access to the type of B. beringi, which 

 is in the Academy of St. Petersburg, but study of the literature 

 and of at least 50 specimens convinces me that V. kobelti Dall (1902) 

 is only a variety of B. beringi. About one-third of the specimens 

 labeled V.ikobelti in the U. S. National Museum are undoubtedly 



