178 AMERICAN JOURNAL 



sion in January, 1867. I found it burrowing in considerable 

 numbers in the fine sand of the beach ; and a few occurred upon 

 clusters of live Mytili attached to stones, and, I believe, were 

 feeding on them after the fashion of our .Purpura lapilhis, though 

 I could not be certain of the fact. The body of the animal in 

 this species, which was of a most beautiful color, was always very 

 much extended from the shell, and the foot was of enormous 

 size. The animal of Valuta mageUanica is also purple, but of a 

 much paler tint than that of the other volute. I regret I was 

 unable to make drawings of the animals while alive ; but nu- 

 merous specimens of both species were included in the collection 

 of marine animals in spirit which I sent to the British Museum 

 last year." 



A 7nature Shell of Cyprcea fusco-dentata, Gray. By F. 

 P. Marrat. 



" Mr. R. Keen, of Edge Lane, Liverpool, has recently pro- 

 cured a very interesting series of this shell, numbering nine or 

 ten varieties ; they fully exhibit the diiferent stages of growth, 

 from the earlier states to the finely colored adult individual. 

 The question formerly advanced, of this being a ribbed species 

 resembling Oypraea Capensis, Gray, is now completely and defi- 

 nitely settled. All the specimens hitherto obtained of this rare 

 shell have been either young or decorticated ; and it would ap- 

 pear that the species is extremely rare in a perfect state. This 

 series includes the first and only example known to be so. 



" The shell is a very fine one, measuring lj% inch, with the 

 teeth fully developed. The color is dirty drab, similar to the 

 shells usually figured ; but the back is covered with rufous-brown 

 close spots like those on Cyp. errones, Linn., and nearly as 

 glossy, but has them larger, more confluent, and more sufi'used. 

 The slightly raised ribs, usually seen in young examples, are not 

 entirely obliterated by having the extra coat of enamel deposited 

 over them." 



On Capillary Vascular Systeins in the Gfasteropoda. By 

 Prof. C. Wedl. 



Fourth Series. Vol. iii^ No. 14. Februarj, 1869. 



On the Homologies of the Dental Plates and Teeth of 

 Prohoscidiferous Gasteropoda. By J. D. McDonald, 

 M. D. 



No. 15. March, 1869. 



On the Animal and Operculum of Georissa, and on its 

 relations to Hydrocena ; with a Note on Hydrocena 



