NOTES 



THIi CyPR.^aA not ATA ReVIVKD 



The first "new species" described b}- Dr. Theodore Gill was a 

 cowry named by him Cyprcca notata. It was described in 1858 in 

 the Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York (vol. v, 

 p. 255-257, pi. 9, figs. 1-3) ; it had been found among other cowries 

 said to have come from Singapore. Although rather a striking and 

 handsome species, it was overlooked or regarded as a mere variety 

 of some other species till 1907. Then it was revived and recognized 

 as a perfectly distinct species by J. G. Hidalgo in his monograph of 

 the genus Cyprsea ("Monografia de las especies vivientes del genero 

 Cyprsea"), published in Madrid. Hidalgo refers to the same species 

 the Cyprcca macula of Adams, described in 1867, and the C. intcr- 

 pnnctata of Brazier, indicated in 1895. He takes the same view of 

 its relationship as Gill did. Specimens have been found in a number 

 of places ranging from Arabia (Aden) to New South Wales (Port 

 Jackson) and Polynesia (Funafuti). It is, however, a rare species, 

 and there are only two specimens in the United States National 

 Aluseum, one of which has long been labeled Cyprcca notata and the 

 other C. macula; neither is a typical representative of the species. — 

 Theodore Gill. 



Establishment of the Langley AIedal 



At the annual meeting of the Board of Regents in December, 

 1908, there was established a medal to be known as the Langley 

 jMedal, in recognition of Mr. Langley's contributions to aerial navi- 

 gation, and to be awarded by the Institution from time to time for 

 specially meritorious investigations in connection with the science of 

 aerodromics and its application to aviation. Following precedent, 

 the Secretary later appointed a Committee of Award, composed of 

 the follow'ing-named gentlemen of recognized attainments in the 

 science of aerodromics : Mr. Octave Chanute, of Chicago, Chairman ; 

 Dr. Alexander Graham Bell; Major George O. Scjuier, U. S. A.; 

 Mr. John A. Brashear, of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and Mr. James 

 Means, formerly editor of the ''Aeronautical Annual," Boston, 

 Massachusetts. 



397 



