64 THE NAUTILUS. 



At Eastport numerous specimens of Chiton marmoreus Fabr. 

 are found. In the midst of two hundred individuals distinctly 

 marked with shades of red, one specimen was found whose color was 

 a clear blue, a striking contrast in a species where there is much 

 similarity. 



Bucciiium iindatum Linn, is famous for its color variations. Its 

 form is strikingly modified. Two specimens before me have the fol- 

 lowing characters. Length 2 J, divergence 75°, and length 4 inches, 

 divergence 50°. They are from near Eastport and Old Orchard 

 resj^ectively. The deep water specimens near Old Orchard are apt 

 to be elongated. At the northern end of Grand Manan, (near East- 

 port) a variety occurs which has no waves, and is thus deprived of 

 the very characteristic which gives the name undatum to the si^ecies. 



Purpura lapUlns Lamarck, is also fiimous for its variation in 

 color ; black, white and orange may be found, with multitudes of 

 mixtures. The vai'iation in thickness is conspicuous. As a rule this 

 may be explained by its surroundings. Individuals on the open 

 coast, exposed to the surf, are thick shelled, and in sheltered bays a 

 thin shell suffices. I was much puzzled last summer to find them, 

 extremely thick at a j^oint ten miles from the sea on the Sheepscote 

 river. The situation being most sheltered I could not account for 

 this extra strength. There is a possible explanation in the climate. 

 The temperature at the sea shore is very much warmer than ten 

 miles inland. Perhaps there is a protection against the cold in this 

 case, where the surf is certainly not responsible. 



The fauna of the Sheepscote river has an unusual combination. 

 As mentioned in a previous article, oysters are found living at a 

 point some fifteen miles inland. There are representations of a 

 more southern fauna a few miles nearer the sea, Peden tentiicostatus 

 Mighels & Adams is very abundant. To return to the example 

 mentioned, i. e. Purpura lajylUus and its dwelling place, we may 

 observe another variation. The removal of a long pile from the 

 bridge gave me a chance to examine the mollusca attached to it. 

 Mytilus edidis, Linn, was conspicuous, also Saxieava and others. 

 Those living in the deep water were delicate in color and texture, 

 resembling forms found in warm water. Directly over these, 

 between tide marks, occur specimens, as above noted, of extremely 

 thick shells. These are but chance examples to illustrate a varia- 

 tion which is as great as that seen in the human race. Could we 

 perfect our knowledge of the lower forms we could name them as 



