Miscellaneous. 373 



BucciNUM PYROSTOMA. Bucc. testd ovato-coiiicd, [acted, ubique can- 

 cellatd, anfractibus convexis, ultimo paululixm umbilicato ; aperturd 

 ovatd, fauce striatd, vivide i-ubrd. 

 Reeve, Conch. Syst., vol. ii. pi. 268. f. 1. 

 Long, f ; diam. | poll. 



Hab. ? 



A small species belonging to the genus Phos of De Montford, re- 

 markable from having a deep cornelian red mouth, whilst every other 

 part of the shell is milk-white. 



Eburna Japonica. Eburn. testd ovato-conicd, apice vix acuto, Icevi ; 

 anfractibus convexis, maculis fulvis, grandibus, regularibus, bise- 

 riatim cinctis, interstitiis maculis parvis regularibus, diagonaliter 

 dispositis, ornatis ; umbilico parvo, pro/undo. 

 Reeve, Conch. Syst., vol. ii. pi. 271. f. 1. 

 Long. 2^ ; diam. l^ poll, 

 Hab. ad oras Japoniae ; Siebold. 



This shell is distinguished by the great regularity of the spots ; 

 the upper and middle portions of the whorls are encircled with a 

 band of large rhomboidal spots, whilst the spaces below and between 

 them are filled with small triangular-like spots, arranged across in 

 regular diagonal rows, 



Terebra pretiosa. Ter. testd longissimo-subulatd, luteold, fusco 

 partim tessellatd ; anfractibus tricenis, superne Icevibus, uniseriatim 

 serratis, infra arcuato-striatis, striis nmnerosis, profundis ; canali 

 subflexuoso. 

 Reeve, Conch. Syst,, vol. ii. pi. 274. f. 2. 

 Long. 5y9f5^ ; diam. ^ poll. 



Hab. ^ } 



This extraordinar)' shell, consisting of thirty whorls, exceeds five 

 inches and a half in length, whilst it barely exceeds half an inch 

 in breadth at the broadest part. It is I believe unique, in the col- 

 lection of the Rev. Mr. Stainforth. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



On the Phosphorescence of the Lampyris Italica. — {Extract from a 

 letter of M. Matteucci to M. Dumas.) 



Baths of Lucca, Aug. 1, 1843. 



1. The phosphorescence of a glow-worm may cease before the 

 death of the insect, 



2. In the glow-worm there is a substance, which, without any sen- 

 sible heat, diflPuses a light that does not require the integrity of the 

 animal and of its living state, in order to manifest itself with its pe- 

 culiar properties. 



3. Carbonic acid and hydrogen are media in which the phospho- 

 rescent matter of the glow-worm leaves off shining after thirty or 

 forty minutes, if the gases are pure. 



4. In oxygen the light of the phosphorescent matter is decidedly 

 more vivid than in atmospheric air, and it remains bright nearly 



