THE NAUTILUS. ffl 
M. multiformis measured : length 0.45, width 0.24, diam. 0.32 inch. 
This would be very small for JV. Stearnsi. As to color, our species 
seems to be invariably brownish-purple above, with the ventral face 
straw colored, white beneath the cuticle. None of the specimens I 
have seen could be called green. Carpenter describes MW. multifor- 
mis as “ purpureo, ad marginum ventralem viridi,” with a variation 
“ omnino viridi.” 
Regarding the question raised by Mrs. Williamson, it may be said 
that all the main genera of Mytilide have both corrugated and 
smooth species, and experience has shown that the characters upon 
which the genera are founded, such as the presence of a septum, 
the position of the beaks and sculpture of the hinge line, are largely 
independent of the surface sculpture, the latter being a compara- 
tively trivial character. At the same time, it is remarkable that 
two species of different genera, and so similar in external characters, 
should be found living together. Itis probably a case of conver- 
gence of specific characters through the influence of identical exter- 
nal conditions. 
NOTES AND NEWS. 
The death of Mons. J. C. H1proxire Crosse, on the 7th of Aug- 
ust, removes one more prominent French conchologist from the 
ranks. For many years editor of the Journal de Conchyliologie, 
Crosse had become known to malacologists the world over as one of 
most able and industrious workers on mollusea ; and by many con- 
chologists to whom he was personally known and esteemed, his loss 
will be felt with deep regret. A biographical notice will follow 
later. 
VALLONIA ON THE Pacrric Stopre.—In Tue Navritvus for 
September, in a note on “Shells of Redding, Shasta Co., Califor- 
nia,” Vallonia pulchella Miill., is quoted as ‘“ not before reported 
from California.” In my collection I have this species from Oak- 
land, Cal., collected by Mr. Fred L. Button of that city, and in Dr. 
J. G. Cooper’s Catalogue of West North American Shells, he quotes 
this species as “ circumboreal” and found as far south as “ Mono 
County, California.” In “Subalpine Mollusca of the Sierra Ne- 
vada,” by W.J: Raymond, he reports finding V. pulchella var. 
