THE NAUTILDS. 139 



51 whorls, gives no measurements, and remarks : " As compared 

 with H. kelletti Fbs., this shell has not the peculiar Hat sloping top to 

 the whorls so characteristic of Forbes' species, the mouth is much 

 less oblique, the umbilicus is not covered, nor are the ends of the lip 

 connected by either callus or plate over the body whorl. I have 

 made minute comparisons of a large series of the present species, with 

 specimens in the collection of Dr. Newcomb labeled Kelletti Fbs., and 

 sent to him by Hugh Cuming." 



"Another point of difference is the locality. Forbes' species has 

 never been found farther south than San Diego, and its true habitat, 

 is probably on one of the islands of the coast, while our species is 

 essentially a Lower California!), being found under stumps of Maguey 

 from St. Toniiis to a little beyond Rosario." 



I may add here that the form we call stearnsiana is very variable 

 in size, though quite constant in general coloring. To show these 

 variations in size I add the measurements of two specimens I col- 

 locted myself at Santo Tomas, in Lower California, Gabb's original 

 locality. The largest measures, great diam. 31, alt. 23 mm.; small- 

 est specimen, great diam. 22, alt. 16 mm. 



I have quoted from these eminent conchologists not only to show 

 how much they differ in their opinions about the locality and form 

 of H. kelletti, Fbs., and Helix stearnsiana, Gabb, but because their 

 writings have become a part of the history of this shell (ff. kelletti) 

 " without a country." 



One fact is sure, the exact locality of H. kelletti, Fbs., is lost, and 

 suppositions, probabilities and surmises count for nothing in this case. 



As Catalina Island is the nearest point to Santa Barbara, one of 

 Forbes' localities for kelletti, where that shell is known to exist, and 

 as it has been largely distributed as the typical form, I think it will 

 be wise to let it remain so, and not attempt any change. If we make 

 the San Diego shell the typical kelletti, then stearnsiana must fall 

 into the synonymy of that species, for no one with a good series of 

 these shells to study from can by any character whatever separate 

 them. Even some of the Catalina Island shells are an exact imita- 

 tion in general coloring of the San Diego and Coronada Island 

 stearnsiana, and with the same number of whorls. 



While upon this chapter of errors, blunders and mistakes, I will 

 call attention to such expressions as the following that occasionally 

 appear in print: " California!! conchologists call such a shell 'so and 



