54 THE XAUTIJ.US. 



I was verv iimcli surprised to find in one of my hauls with the 

 dredge, a number of very perfect specimens of Turbonilla inteiTupta 

 Totten, associated with Odostomia interrvpta Say, and also Nucula 

 proxima Say. 



One of the most abundant ^lollusks of the South seems to be 

 Melongena corona Gmel. This shell is to be found upon the salt 

 marshes (Savannas) in great numbers, and of all sizes from a half 

 inch in length to over four inches, and through all degrees of per- 

 fection. I collected one day in a single hour 860 of these shells 

 comprising one of the finest series of this mollusk that could be im- 

 agined. I noticed among them a number of specimens having a 

 doulile row of spines, all the way around the whorls. ThLs variety 

 has been named l)isj)inosa hx Philippi but the characters are not 

 constant and the name therefore does not stand. 



SUMMER STUDIES IN CONCHOLOGY. 



BY PROF. JOSIAH KEEP. 



For several years past a class in Conchology has been connected 

 with the Chautauqua Assembly at Pacific Grove, Monterey, Cal. 

 This Assembly meets annually about July 1, and continues its ses- 

 sions for the space of two weeks. During this time there are nu- 

 merous lectures, concerts, and other intellectual exercises, many of 

 Avhich are of a high grade of excellence. Such a pi'ograrame, given at 

 this delightful watering place, naturally attracts many visitors be- 

 side those who are engaged in the regular Chautauqua course of 

 studies. The past season has been no exception, but the interest has 

 been deeper and the attendance larger than on any previous occa- 

 sion. 



The science classes were mostly held at nine o'clock in the morn- 

 ing, and were followed by a public lecture. Excursions to the beach 

 were made at various times, particularly in the early morning, in 

 order to take advantage of the very low tides which occur then, 

 about the time of the new and the full moon. 



The class in Conchology was no respecter of persons in regard to 

 age or occupation. Around the tables on which our shells were 

 spread were seated matrons with gray hair, boys and girls, young 

 men and women, ministers of the gospel, teachers from our schools, 

 here a young man from the farm, and beside him a mother leaving 



