1 8 Mr. J. C. Melvill and Mr. Abercrombie on 



extracted with ease, and as regards the large species {O. 

 bicolor and its varieties) the markets are regularly supplied 

 with them. Pitrptira carinifcra and Canthants spiralis are 

 regularly gathered off the stones and rock}- beach, and 

 enormous quantities of the shells of such species as Circe 

 divaricata and Area granosa, are often found in the vicinity 

 of the dwellings of those who live by the sea shore. 



At all the low tides women and children are employed, 

 standing almost up to their knees in black slimy mud, 

 digging up with their hands C/iiotic pinguis, a xevy abundant 

 species, allied to the clam of the United States (J/, vicrccn- 

 aria) ; and, in addition to the species just mentioned, 

 Chione radiata, the handsome Tapes textrix, and the curious 

 brachiopod Lingula Jiians, all found in similar places, are 

 often offered for sale, as edible species, in the markets. 



For the collector who is satisfied with specimens, often, 

 it is true, in dead condition, but mostly of fresh appearance 

 and lustre, there are few of the Bombay species that cannot 

 be obtained in one or other of the two sandj'- bays in the 

 island, where a rich harvest may be said to be always 

 awaiting him. IMost of the smaller species, eg., Plcurotoincc, 

 Risso(B, Pyraniidellidcc, and the like, have been obtained by 

 sifting shell-sand obtained in abundance at low water. 

 During the monsoon season, especially, many rare specimens 

 may be obtained which are never, or at all events seldom, 

 seen otherwise. 



The collection of Marine Shells now to be catalogued 

 has been formed almost entirely in the Island of Bombay, 

 and comprises about 320 species. A few have been obtained 

 from districts lying immediately north, and from Ratnagiri, 

 150 miles to the south, and where this is the case, the 

 locality is given in the list appended. 



The Mollusca of Bombay are specially interesting in a 

 two-fold way. 



Firstly, because of the wide range westward that many 



