172 Miscellaneous. 



ception of about half a dozen 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 arc young, or at least 

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

 ference in size among my specimens of this liingimda 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 with 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 

 liinf/ictda may be mostly immature individuals which, by a law 

 attaching to their structure, assumed, in anticipation of a natural 

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

 mature specimens killed suddenly Avould retain their juvenile 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 immature forms ought to occur frequently as 

 Tiving shells. 



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

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

 formed by the young animal, it had continued growing to its full 

 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, 



Seaeles V. Wood. 

 Brentwood, Jan. 1871. 



Observations on the Tnvertehrata of Massachusetts. 

 By Alfred Bell, Esq. 



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



Gentlemen, — I shall be glad if you will permit me to make a 

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

 vertebrata 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. 



