528 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vot.xxiv. 
The specimen is obviously not fully mature, and must reach a larger 
size than that indicated b}' the measurements above given. 
VOLUTOPSIUS (BERINGII Middendorff var.?) KOBELTI Dall. 
Plate XXXV, fig. 2. 
fTrhonium (Fusus) behringii Middendorff, Bull. Acad. St. Petersb., VII, 1848, 
No. 16, p. 3; Beitr. Mai. Ross., II, 1849, p. 147, pi. iii, figs. 5, 6. 
Neptunea hehringii (ex parte) Kobelt, Mart. Chemn. Conch. Cab., Neue Ausg. 
Pyrula et Fusus, 1881, p. 67, pi. xii, figs. 2, 3. 
Strombella beringi Dall, Sci. Expl. Alaska, Buccinid.T, 1879, pi. i, fig. 1. 
Pribiloflf Islands, Bering Sea, and also at Nunivak Island. U.S.N.M., 
108990. 
The rarity of the specimens of this genus from the Pacific, Arctic, 
and Bering Sea, and the beach-worn condition of most of those 
obtained have led in the past to much confusion among the described 
species. Thus V. castanea, V. herlngii^ Beringius kennicottii, V. 
maUeatus^ and the present form have all been regarded as forms of 
one protean species by the few naturalists in Europe who have con- 
sidered them at all. Now that fair series of these species have been 
obtained by the writer and the U. S. Fish Commission, a better 
discrimination is possible. Middendorff's Trltonitmi hehringii {niel. 
heringii., to agree with the name of the explorer as properly spelled) 
was based on a beach-worn specimen obtained in Bering Sea at St. 
Paul Island by Wossnessenski. Nothing like it came under my notice 
for years, and having obtained specimens such as the one now figured 
1 supposed the original type to be merely a somewhat abnormal 
specimen, and communicated my idea to Dr. Kobelt who figured 
specimens under Middendorff's name, also copying his figure. Lately, 
however, I have received a young specimen from St. Paul which 
agrees exactly with the characteristics of Middendorft's type. It is 
perfectly smooth, massively heavy and solid, and with very prominent 
solid ribs. I have no doubt it should be referred to V. heringii, and 
that it is probably distinct from the form which I now propose to call 
after Dr. Kobelt and have figured. 
Beringius (or Volutopslus) kennicottii Dall is distinguished from all 
the other species by its more regular and numerous axial ribs and 
especially by the fine, close, wavy, spiral striation with which it is 
entirely covered. V. castaneus Morch has no spiral sculpture what- 
ever, and is otherwise sufficiently distinct. V. koheltl has the usual 
basal striation, but above the base the spirals when present are coarse, 
obsolete, sparse, and irregular. Y. heringii Middendorff' is absolutely 
smooth, except near the canal. The axial waves (they can hardly be 
called ribs) of V. kohelti are feeble and irregular, the shell is relatively 
thin and light compared with V. heringii^ and has much coarser incre- 
mental lines, more acute and rather higher spire, and a less effuse 
