121 



A little shell about the size, and with many of the characters 

 of C. Emersonii. It also resembles C. ferrugineum, Say, but is 

 much smaller. 



Cerithium egenum. Testa minuta, lanceolata, albida, ad 

 basim maculis parvis fuscis notata : spira acuminata, anfr. ad 10 

 convexiusculis, filis ad 5 cinctis, quorum centrali et suturali ma- 

 joribus, anfractu ultimo utrinque varicoso : apertura rotundato- 

 ovalis ; rostro brevissimo ; columella postice callosa. Long, f , 

 lat. -^ poll. Hab. Wilson's Island. 



The characters of this little shell are somewhat negative, but 

 on the whole it may be distinguished by its sharp revolving lines 

 having a tendency to granulation, without longitudinal folds; the 

 little blotches in the region of the rostrum seem to be constant. 

 It is a little like C. lacteiwi, but much smaller. 



Cerithium ianthinum. Testa parva, tenuis, ovato-lanceolata, 

 violacescens sed labro sutura et varicibus albis : spira acuminata, 

 anfr. trivaricosis ad 10, filis tenuibus ad 8 cinctis, quorum medi- 

 ani majori et granoso ad anfractus apicales : apertura ovato-ro- 

 tundata ; rostro brevissimo ; columella vix callosa. Long. -I, 

 lat. 2^0 poll. Hah. Clermont Tonnere. 



If this be not the young of some other species, which I some- 

 what suspect, it is very well marked by its color alone. The 

 contrasting of the white and violet, and its numerous ribs being 

 beautifully displayed. It is larger than C. ? ?. 



Mr. Ayres exhibited the skull of a fish, showing a curious 

 malformation. The anterior sphenoid bone was disarticula- 

 ted, and turned up into the orbit of the eye, causing a dis- 

 placement of the temporal and maxillary bones. Mr. A. 

 remarked that it was a curious fact, that the only two 

 instances in which he had found this malformation were 

 species of the genus Labrax ; L. lineatus and mucronatus. 



A circular from the Smithsonian Institute relative to an 

 extensive system of meteorological observations, and asking 

 co5peration by Societies and individuals, was read by the 

 Secretary. It was laid on the table to be at the disposal of 

 any one who might wish to undertake the duty. 



