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AMERICAN JOURNAL 



same as that of ricinus. It is quite restricted in its habitat, 

 being only found at the Paumotus. 



SlSTRUM OCHROSTOMA, Blain. 



1832. Purpura ochrostoma, Blain., Nouv. Ann. du Mus. p. 205. 



" " nassoides, (var.) Quoy, Voy. d'Astrol. pi. 38, fig. 



1835. Purpura ochrostoma, Kien., Coq. Viv. p. 44, pi. 10, fig. 29. 

 1856. llkinula " Rve., Conch. Icon. sp. 31. 



" " echinata, Rve., " " sp. 54. 



The above species, collected by Quoy, was classed by him as 

 a variety of nassoides (= chaidea, Duclos.) Blainville separated 

 and described it under the above name, and it was figured by 

 Kiener. Ihe specimens, however, appear to be worn. I for- 

 warded to the late Mr. Cuming a number of specimens which 

 were examined by Mr. Reeve. From among them echinata. Rve., 

 was selected and returned me. Although the figures of the two 

 species in Conch. Icon, would appear to be distinct, the descrip- 

 tions more nearly agree. No figure representing the species 

 faithfully has yet appeared. The scales on one species cover 

 the interstices, on the other the ribs, but occasionally the whole 

 surface is covered with scales. The spots referred to in descrip- 

 tion of echinata as occurring in rows, sometimes form a continu- 

 ous band. I have never observed them on any specimens, ex- 

 cepting those at the Hawaiian Islands. The color of the aper- 

 ture fades out. 



I have received from Dr. P. P. Carpenter a specimen from 

 the Gallapagos Islands, labelled " Type of ochrostoma" and also 

 one from Cape St. Lucas, described by him as " ochrostoma, var. 

 rufonotata." They differ widely from the Polynesian ochrostoma, 

 Blain., belonging to another genus — Engina. The type agrees 

 with description of Buccinum pulchrum, Rve., collected by Mr. 

 Cuming at the Gallapagos Islands. As Dr. Carpenter has con- 

 nected several Polynesian species with those inhabiting the west 

 coast of America, either by name or by identity, I would observe 

 that the 'number of species of marine Gasteropoda* common to 

 Polynesia or the East Indies and west coast of America, is much 

 less than reported. When errors in locality and names are cor- 

 rected, cosmopolite species, such as those of certain Terebros, as 

 arranged by Reeve, are studied out, the analogous forms strictly 

 defined by the comparison of large numbers of specimens and 

 their animals, they will be found not to exceed five or six in 

 number and perhaps less. 



