Miscellaneous. 309 



Ct 



ncostata and Freycinetii (a Kamtschatka shell) ; it is probably a 

 variety of the former. 



Purpura fuscata, sp. nov. 



r. testd oblongd, subturritd, fused ; spird brevi ; anfractibus con- 

 vexis, costis spiralibus (2 in anfractu penultimo) paucis distan- 

 tibus subsquumosis cinctis, interstitiis costis obsoletis ; aperturd 

 dilatatd, columella albidd. 

 Long. l-jL, lat. -j^, long, apert, ^ unc. 



A species of the Lapillus group. Said to have been taken at the 

 Sandwich Islands. 



Among the Purpura in the collection are P. planospira, P. colu- 

 mellaris, and P. Carolensis, all Galapagos species, and probably col- 

 lected during the visit to those islands. 



Fusus Kelletii, sp. nov. 



F. testd crassd, fusiformi, pyramidatd, anfractibus 9, spiraliter stri- 

 atis, angulatis, noduloso-costatis, costis in anfractibus omnibus 8, 

 prope suturam obsoletis excavatis appressisque ; anfractu ultimo 

 ■| test(B occupante ; aperturd elongato-pyriformi, superne angulato ; 

 inferne canali obliquo plus ^ apertures aquante ; labro columellari, 

 refiexo, incrassato, labro externa attenuato, subdenticulato ; caudd 

 incrassatd, contortd, reflexd ; colore sordide albido, ore albo. 

 Long. 3| unc. ; lat. max. anfr. ult. 1^^ unc. ; long, apert. 2| unc. ; 

 long. caud. -j^. 



This remarkable shell was taken on the Californian coast, and is 

 very distinct from any known Fusus. In general aspect it closely 

 resembles a Fasciolaria, reminding us strongly of the European Fas- 

 ciolaria tarentina, but is greatly larger and has no plaits on the 

 pillar lip. The striae which wind round the whorls are grouped in 

 twos and threes. They become very strongly marked and assume 

 the character of sulcations on the caudal portion of the body whorl. 

 The ribs are mainly developed a little above the centre on the angu- 

 lated portion of the body whorl and on the lower halves of the upper 

 whorls, so prominently as to appear like large tubercles. 



I have dedicated this unique shell to the eminent conductor of this 

 important expedition. 



Fusus Oregonensis was taken on the Californian coast, and F. sale- 

 brosus on the coast of Mazatlan. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



On a Parasite which is developed under exceptio7ial circumstances 

 on the surface of certain alimentary substances and causes them 

 to appear covered with blood. By M. Montagne. 



'^An extraordinary phsenomenon has just passed under my eyes, to 

 which I beg to call the attention of the Academy for a moment, j 

 had already some knowledge of it from two memoirs which have 

 treated of it specially, but had never witnessed it previously. More- 

 over this phaenomenon is so rare, that I am not aware of its having 

 ever been mentioned in this country. I am speaking of the develop- 



