THE PYRAMIDELLID MOLLUSKS OF THE 



PLIOCENE DEPOSITS OF NORTH 



ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA' 



By 



Paul Bartsch 

 Associate in Mollnsks, U. S. National Museum 



INTRODUCTION 



It is unfortunate that time does not permit me to make a complete 

 survey of the Floridian Recent and Tertiary pyramidellid fauna, for 

 this family embraces a larger number of species than does any other 

 in that region. This fauna here has been almost completely neglected, 

 owing evidently to the inconspicuous size of its members. Our past 

 knowledge of it is paralleled by that of the West American species 

 prior to the publication of United States National Museum Bulle- 

 tin 68, "A Monograph of West American Pyramidellid Mollusks," 

 by Dall and Bartsch, 1909. 



Prior to that study it fell to my lot to determine material sent to 

 our Museum, and I recall the genus Turbonilla had all the specimens 

 arranged under six specific names. Some, it is true, were placed 

 under the generic names of both Turbonilla and Chemnitsia. I re- 

 member that I facetiously suggested to Dr. Dall that we draw lots 

 to decide which of the six names should be attached to a specimen 

 when sent in for determination. It was that trite remark which started 

 me on several years of study, resulting in Bulletin 68. 



The Recent and fossil pyramidellids of East America are in an 

 equally lamentable condition. Here, as on the west coast, prior to the 

 publication of Bulletin 68, authors have attached names to species 

 bearing a congeneric resemblance to some illustration, regardless of 

 geographic or geologic distribution. Had the author had a specifnen 

 instead of a drawing for comparison, it would have prevented 

 him from misapplying the name. 



1 This work has been published in part from a grant to the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution from WilHam G. Fargo and in part from the Charles D. and Mary Vaux 

 Walcott Research Fund. 



SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS, VOL. 125, NO. 2 



