282 PROCEEDIKGS OF THE MALACOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



valves of Dielasma hastata, a Carboniferous member of the Terebratulidae. 

 According to Forbes, Terehratida is a genus inhabiting deep water, 

 although the species found in modern seas having striped shells come 

 from shallow water. 



Dr. Bather' has observed coloration among fossil Crinoids, and 

 particularly refers to one example, Cyathocrinus acinotuhis, from the 

 Silurian Limestone of Dudley, showing dark spots on the arras, which 

 "may possibly be the relic of some original colouring, since similar 

 ornament is found in recent forms." He mentions also the purple 

 colouring in the roots of Apiocrinus from the Bi'adford Clay which he 

 had chemically examined, besides having succeeded in extracting from 

 such roots a large proportion of animal carbon, the presence of which 

 he was inclined to think gave the specimens their rich colour. 



Following these preliminary remarks, some examples of fossil shells 

 will now be referred to which exhibit such markings as may be 

 attributable to ancient coloration. Certain specimens in the British 

 Museum have been selected for illustration, and where a particular 

 form was not available a good published figure of the same has been 

 copied. In illustration of the subject, some further shells are also 

 quoted which have been suitably figured elsewhere, and which have 

 not been reproduced on the present occasion. The species are arranged 

 in stratigraphical order, commencing with the Cainozoic, followed by 

 a zoological grouping. 



CAINOZOIC— Oligocene. 

 GASTROPODA. 

 Neeitina concava, J. de C. Sowerby. PL XXIY, Fig. 18. 

 Neritina concata, Sowerby : Mineral Couchology, vol. iv (1823), p. 118, 

 pi. 385, figs. 1-8. 

 Formation. — Priabonian. 

 Locality. — Headon Hill, Isle of Wight. 



It is possible that the colours frequently found in Tertiary shells 

 may sometimes be the same as those that flourished during the life of 

 the mollusc. The present example of the genus Neritina exhibits 

 considerable variation in colour, the surface consisting of minute 

 zigzag and lozenge-shaped markings with occasional spiral bands, the 

 whole forming quite a lace or network combination. No two shells 

 appear to be marked exactly the same, yet they are very abundant in 

 the Oligocene formation and belong to one species. 

 This specimen is in the British Museum [G. 17999]. 



MESOZOIC— Cretaceous. 



PELECYPODA. 

 OsTREA cf. cuEVEEOSTRis, Nilssou. PL XXIV, Fig. 17. 

 Ostrea curvirostris, Nilsson : Petrificata Suecana, etc., 1827, p. 30, 

 pi. vi, fig. 5. 



Kongl. Svenska Vet.-Akad. Handl. [Stockhohn], vol. xxv (1893), No. 2, p. 151. 



