448 Mr. L. Reeve on the Recent Terebratulse. 



served significance by this discussion, has communicated to me 

 the discovery that either Waldheimia globosa or W. dilatata was 

 collected nearly a century ago by the illustrious navigator Capt. 

 Cook, and named by Solander Anomia venosa. The name only 

 appeared in manuscript at first in the Portland Catalogue; but, 

 a few years later, another specimen was brought to England 

 from the same locality by Capt. George Dixon ; and in the nar- 

 rative of his expedition, published in London in 1789, a very 

 excellent figure and description are given of it *. 



In conclusion I may refer to another statement of Prof. 

 Suess, in which it will be more agreeable to me to convict him 

 of error. He says he is " no friend of critics.^^ This is a lapsus 

 calami, which I am sure he will unreservedly admit. I learn 

 from our mutual friend Mr. Davidson, that he is a man of great 

 rising talent, a friendly correspondent, full of genial sympathies, 

 and has attained by merit and industry to a most distinguished 

 position. 



I am. Gentlemen, 



Your very obedient Servant, 



LovELL Reeve. 



Hutton, Brentwood, 

 May 2, 1861. 



* "At Falkland Islands we met with a curious kind of shell, of the 

 Anomia genus of Linnaeus, of which, though the species are numerous in 

 a fossil state in most parts of the globe, few have been discovered recent, 

 or fresh from the sea. One only of this sort was before known in Europe, 

 which was brought over by my late worthy commander, the much regretted 

 Captain Cook, in his first voyage round the world : it was in the Portland 

 Museum, and was named by the late celebrated Dr. Solander, in his MS. 

 description of that splendid cabinet, Anomia venosa, which specimen is 

 now in the collection of M. Calonne of London. 



" This kind (as do all that are properly of this genus) adheres to coral 

 rocks, by a ligament that comes from the animal through the hole in the 

 larger valve. The internal structure (peculiar to shells of this genus) is 

 very singular, and consists of two testaceous rays, which commence near 

 the hinge in the lesser valve, where they adhere ; from whence, leaving the 

 shell, they proceed to near the edge, then bend towards the other valve, 

 and turn back to their commencement, where they unite. This internal 

 part is very delicate, and breaks upon the smallest touch, but is thicker in 

 the part nearest to the larger valve. The shell takes its name from certain 

 parts of the animal which run in a branched form along the inside of the 

 shell, which being held to a strong light or a candle, gives it a beautiful 

 veined appearance. The outside is smooth, and of a pale brown colour. 



" The specimen from which the engraving was made is in the private 

 collection of Mr. George Humphrey, dealer in natural curiosities, Albion 

 Street, near Blackfriars Bridge, London." (A Voyage round the World, 

 performed in 1785-8. By Capt. George Dixon. Dedicated to Sir Joseph 

 Banks.) 



