110 AMERICAN JOURNAL 



1835. Purpura hippocastanum, Kien., Coq. Viv., p. 52, pi. 13, 



fig. 36, 36a. 

 1844. Purpura hippocastanum, Desh., An. sans Vert. vol. 10, 



p. 65. 

 1846. Purpura hippocastanum, Rve., Conch. Icon., sp. 34, pi. 



12, fig. 33, 33a. 

 1758. Purpura aculeata, Regn., Choix de Coq., p. 10, pi. 2, 



fig. 18. 

 1844. Purpura aculeata, Desh., An. sans Vert. vol. 10, p. 104. 

 1822. " plicata, Lam., " " " vol. 7, p. 246. 

 1844. " " Desh., " » " vol. 10, p. 82. 



We quite agree with M. Deshayes, that the above name 

 should be abandoned as a Linnean species, but not that it should 

 be entirely discarded from our nomenclature. 



Not one of the figures referred to in Sys. Nat. represent the 

 hippocastanum of modern authors. The only distinct unmis- 

 takable figure cited by Linnaeus, is that of P. hystrix, in Regen- 

 fuss, pi. 3, fig. 32, while on the previous plate there is an 

 equally well represented figure of hippocastanum, which he 

 refers to Turbinella cornigera. 



The description in Sys. Nat., in nine words, is quite as indefi- 

 nite as his references. A portion of it in connection with that 

 in Mus. Ulricse, may apply to P. pica, Blain, but equally as well 

 to varieties of hippocastanum, or to other species, but the whole 

 to no one. 



Mr. Hanley relies mainly on the description in Mus. Ulricse 

 in support of his opinion, that Linnseus probably described P. 

 pica, Blain. It is not unlikely, however, that the shell in Mus. 

 Ulricse was distinct from that originally described in Sys. Nat. 

 For on the republication of the description three years after- 

 ward, in the 12th edition of Sys. Nat., he adopts his original de- 

 scription. Had any corrections been made later in MSS, Mr. 

 Hanley would have noticed them. Of the original description, 

 quadriferiam subspinosa applies more frequently to hippocasta- 

 num, Lam., or even hystrix, than to pica. "Apertura transver- 

 sim striata," connects it with P. pica. Of the description in 

 Mus. Ulricse, "spinse serie triplici," is more applicable to hippocas- 

 tanum, than to pica. " Apertura edentula," refers again to pica, 

 although many specimens of hippocastanum are edentate, or the 

 granules near the edge of the lip obscure. The color " albo 

 nigroque varia," is quite as applicable to hippocastanum as to pica, 

 more especially to some specimens of aculeata. 



We are disposed to consider the aculeata as an immature form 

 of hippocastanum, for the reason that, among specimens from 



