160 Miscellaneous. 



coarse lines of growth, and about six or eight nodulous revolving 

 ridges, more or less strongly elevated in different specimens, the 

 three middle ones being the most prominent, and faint revolving lines 

 being also traceable occasionally between the ridges ; aperture very 

 oblique, smooth, white or purplish within ; outer lip sharp ; columella 

 broad, straight, generally with a chink behind it ; anterior margin 

 a little produced. Long, '41 in,, lat, -53 in., of an average specimen. 

 Animal and operculum precisely as in L. sitkana, which was abun- 

 dant on the same rocks. 



Hah. Living at Gull rocks, Akutan Pass, Aleutian Islands, abun- 

 dantly (TF. iT. i)aZ/). 



This is a very remarkable and distinct species, resembling no other 

 on the Avest American coast. 



Notes. — Bmchmm Kennicottii, Dall, proves, on obtaining specimens 

 containing the soft parts and the operculum, to be a Chrysodomus. 

 It was originall)" described as a Baccinmn, in deference to the opinion 

 of the late Dr. William Stimpson, who had recently monographed 

 the northern species of that group. Its distribution is from the 

 Shuraagins eastward, not, as was originally rejiorted, from Una- 

 lashka, 



Buccinum Baeri, Midd., proves to be a very marked race of B. cya- 

 neum. B. Fischenanurn, I)all, which was suspected at the time it 

 was described to be similarly related to B. cyaneum, proves to be 

 distinct. 



Haliotis, which has long been tabulated as an inhabitant of the 

 Aleutian chain, does not exist in that part of the archipelago east of 

 Unalashka, and probably not in these islands at all. — Proceedings of 

 the California Academy of Sciences, Oct, 8, 1872, 



Projectile Power of the Capsules of Hamamelis virginica. 

 By Mr, T, Meehan, 



The Author said that while travelling through a wood recently 

 he was struck in the face by some seeds of Hamamelis virginica^ 

 the common "Witch-Hazel, with as much force as if these were 

 spent shot from a gun. Not aware before that these capsules 

 possessed any projecting-power, he gathered a quantity in order to 

 ascertain the cause of the projecting force, and the measure of its 

 power. Laying the capsules on the floor, he found the seeds were 

 thrown generally four or six feet, and in one instance as much as 

 twelve feet away. The cause of this immense projecting-power he 

 found to be simply the contraction of the horny albumen which 

 surrounded the seed. The seeds were oval, and in a smooth bony 

 envelope ; and when the albumen had burst and expanded enough 

 to get just beyond the middle (where the seed narrowed again), the 

 contraction of the albumen caused the seed to slip out with force, 

 just as we should squeeze out a smooth tapering stone between the 

 finger and thumb, — Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil, part iii. p, 235 

 (1872). 



