10 THE NAUTILUS. 
on the back, shake hands, adjourn, go home, and sleep more soundly 
then ever before; but, unfortunately, the ghosts of Dr. Lea, Mr. 
Conrad, Mr. Say, and others might appear upon the scene, and 
Mr. Ego might appear in the flesh, armed with carpet-bag, micro- 
scope, and manuscript; in which ease the big show would not last 
half long enough to enable the quarrelsome scientists to finish throw- 
ing mussel shells at one another. 
Seriously, however, this “ muddle” ought to be unmuddled; but 
how is it to be done? Who is there upon whom all concerned will 
be willing to rest the responsibility of deciding contested points? 
Can three or five men be found upon whose judgment all will con- 
sent to rest? Ifso, who shall they be? 
By the time the “ Unio Muddle” shall have been fairly settled 
the indications are that there will be three or four other first class 
muddles ripe. Would it not be well for the American Association 
of Conchologists to do in regard to American mollusks as the Amer- 
ican Ornithological Union has done in regard to the American 
Birds, and settle not only the “ Unio Muddle,” but all contested 
points in American Conchology ? 
Why is it that the reputation of a conchologist should rest upon 
the naming of new species rather than upon a knowledge of Con- 
chology? and, honestly, may not the making of new species some- 
times be attributed more to conceited self-assertion than to a desire 
to help the science? Suppose we have a committee of the American 
Association whose duty it shall be to decide upon the merits of 
so-called new species, and that a name be regarded as only provi- 
sional until it be accepted or rejected by such committee. So mote 
it be. 
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF NASSA FROM THE GULF OF 
CALIFORNIA. 
BY ROBT. E. C. STEARNS, U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
Shell small, elongated, ovate, of seven to eight whorls, with an 
acutely elevated spire, ornamented with generally three spiral ser- 
ies of granules; occasionally four series are exhibited on the penul- 
timate whorl, and six to seven on the basal. These granules also 
correspond to a longitudinal arrangement. In some examples the 
sutural series is a little more prominent and followed by a slight 
