172 Miscellaneous. 



ception of about half a dozeu which seemed to be, and probably were, 

 fractured) ; and this is the more extraordinary, as all my Coralline- 

 Crag specimens of this species have come from a locality, at Sutton, 

 where at least nine tenths of the shells found are young, or at least 

 specimens which have not attained to their full growth. The dif- 

 ference in size among my specimens of this Mingicula is very con- 

 siderable, as might be supposed, some being as long again as others ; 

 and if the small ones had not been furnished with a thickened lip, 

 there would have been no hesitation in referring them to the imma- 

 ture condition of the species. If these small specimens -wdth a 

 thickened lip be not in many instances young shells, may we not 

 ask what has become of the immature specimens ? Have they never 

 died from any other causes than predaceous ones while under full 

 age ? I am inclined to believe that the small shells of Trivia and 

 Ringicida may be mostly immature individuals which, hy a law 

 attaching to their structiu-e, assumed, in anticipation of a natriral 

 death, this thickened margin to the outer Kp. Of course, any im- 

 mature specimens killed suddenly would retain their jiivenile forms, 

 but we must assume that nearly all killed suddenly were so killed 

 for food, and consumed ; so that we do not find these fossil, though 

 in the recent state the immatiu'e forms ought to occur frequently as 

 Jiving shells. 



In the genera Cassis and Cassidaria we often see that after this 

 apparently adult character of a thickened lip, or varix, has been 

 foi-med by the young animal, it had continued growing to its fuU 

 size ; and this early thickened lip is denoted by a ridge (or ridges) 

 left upon the spire of the full-grown shell ; but I have in vain 

 looked for this ridge upon the spire of any of my numerous speci- 

 mens of Ringicida, either large or small. 



Perhaps some of your correspondents can throw a light upon this 

 question. 



I am, Gentlemen, 



Yours truly, 



Searles V. "Wood. 

 Brentwood, Jan. 1871. 



Observations on the Invertehrata of Massachusetts. 

 By Alfred Bell, Esq. 



To the Editors of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 



Gentlemen, — I shaU be glad if you wiU permit me to make a 

 few remarks upon the new issue of Dr. Gould's Report on the In- 

 vertehrata of Massachusetts, just published. 



It is to be regretted that, in bringing out a second edition, the 

 works of European conchological authors have been so little con- 

 sulted. A very little care would have tended to the reduction of 

 errors and the avoidance of useless synonymy, thus advancing our 

 present scientific knowledge. 



