Quarterly Journal of Conchology. 43 



24. Ckosse, II. — Diagnosis of a new species. — No. 2, pp. 206 — 

 207. 



25. Gassies, J. B. — " Description de Mollusqiies ten-estres et 

 fluviatiles provenant de la Nouvelle Oaledonie. — No. 2, pp. 207 — 216. 



Helix sahurra, Gassies ; Cassidula pilosa, Gas. ; C. truncata, Gas. ; 

 Melampus exesus, Gas. ; M, strictus, Gas. ; Hydrocena rubra, Gas. ; 

 Hydrohia Crosseana, Gas. C. P. G. 



EEPRINTS. 

 " Salpa Spinosa (Otto) oflE" the West Coast of Ireland — T first 

 found this oceanic mollusk in August, 1869, when it was floating 

 near the surface of the sea, in very great abundance, between Golani 

 Head and the Isles of Arran. Again, this season, I have met with 

 it plentifully in the vicinity of the Skiara Rocks, and around Deer 

 Island, to the south-west of Roundstone, in Connemara. — A. G. 

 More, Dublin, Sept. 4, 1874."— Zoologist for October,1874 ; S.S., vol. 

 ix., p. 4202. 



THE PECTENS, OR SCALLOP-SHELLS. 



By E. E. C. STEAENS. 



[ From tlie Overland Monthly for April, 1873.] 



The Oceau heaves resistlessly, 

 And pours his glittering treasures forth ; 



His waves, the priesthood of the sea, 

 Kneel on the shell-gemmed earth, 



And there emit a hollow sound, 

 As if they murmured praise and prayer ; 



On every side 'tis holy ground- 

 All nature worships there ! 



— Vedder. 



Of the many beautiful forms which live in the sea, perhaps none are 

 more attractive or deservedly popular than the pectens, or scallop- 

 shells. The rambler on the sea-shore rejoices in a prize when the odd 

 valve of a scallop is detected in some out-of-the-way nook, covered up 

 and hidden like a treasure, among the sea wrack, mingled in strange 

 confusion, with dead crabs, star-fishes, delicate corals and algse — the 

 flotsam and jetsam of the winter storms ; and when a specimen of 

 unusual vividness of color and perfectness of sculpture is obtained, an 

 exclamation of ti'iumph mingles with the murmuring music of the 

 surf 



The fairer sex esteem these shells highly, but not from an edible 

 point of view, as do theix" sterner brethren ; for though the animal, or 

 soft part, when fresh) is really a great delicacy, the valves, or two 



