1875. MR. E. A. SMITH ON THE GENUS ALABA. 539 
And here | cannot refrain, although always averse to censuring 
criticism, from condemning most energetically that pernicious prac- 
tice of describing fragments of minute specimens and assigning spe- 
cific names to them. It merely results in burdening science with a 
mass of literature almost useless ; for it is simply an impossibility for 
any one to identify their specimens from the description of those 
miserable fragments characterized in the Mazatlan Catalogue. De- 
scribe them and welcome, for no harm is thereby done, albeit but 
little good; but for the sake of others let us not name them. 
Diala leithii. 
DIALA LEITHII, sp. nov. 
-Testa imperforata, ovato-fusiformis ; spira acuminata, tenuis, 
*parum nitida, sordide flavida, fasciis spiralibus angustis rufis 
parumconspicuis ornata, unacircamedium anfr. superiorum, dua- 
bus inultimo, alterapaululum supra, altera paululum medium in- 
Sra; anfractus 9, convexi, medio levissime angulati, spiraliter 
equidistanter striati, striis in anfr. superioribus circiter 8, in 
ultimo ad 18; sutura parum obliqua, profundiuscula; apertura 
ovata, ad basin acuminate effusa, longitudinis totius ad 53; 
equans, fasciis externis bifasciata ; columella arcuata leviterque 
incrassata ; labrum tenue, simplex. 
Operculum corneum, tenue, paucispirale, nucleo subcentrali. 
Long. 73 mill. Diam. fere 3. 
Hab. California. 
The angulation of the whorls is very slight in most specimens, 
and in some altogether absent. The spiral reddish bands are not 
very observable, but are more distinctly observable within the aper- 
ture; indeed that which encircles the middle of the upper whorls is 
so faint as to be scarcely visible. The operculum consists of about 
three volutions; and its nucleus is situated at about one fourth the 
entire length from the inferior margin. Dr. Leith, who has kindly 
presented a good series of this species to the Museum, enclosed with 
them the following notes, which he made respecting the animal 
when observing it alive. 
*« Lip somewhat proboscidiform, not used in progression, and not 
usually projecting beyond the edge of the foot. 
