THE - CONCHOLOGISTS’ + EXCHANGE 35 
THE VITALITY OF MOLLUSCA 
ROF. Angelo Heilprin 
for a remarkable case of vitality ob- 
served among certain members of the 
fauna of the New Jersey Coast. Specimens 
Emma Walter at Atlantic City in June, 1855, 
and retained dry during the entire year of | 
their accidental captivity, were stated to be 
still alive, although subjected for several 
months to the abnormal temperature occa- 
sioned by proximity to a heated wall surface. 
This, the Professor contended, was perhaps 
the most extraordinary instance of abnormal 
vitality known among the marine mollusca, 
although among the terrestrial and fresh-water 
forms, especially among those which undergo 
a partial hibernation, longer periods of semi- 
adaptation to imposed conditions have been 
noted. Instances of such survivals were cited 
by Professor Heilprin and Professor Leidy.— 
[Proc. Acad. of Natural Sciences, Philadel- 
phia, June, 1886. ] 
NEW LOCALITIES 
Editor Conchologists’ Exchange,Sir: Zém- 
nea gracilis is found in La Belle Lake, Wau- 
kesha Co., Wis. Mrs. H. F. Henshall, Cyn 
thiana, Ky. 
STRIAE 
Professor Leidy has named a new annelid 
Lumbricus glacialis. 
Dr. H. D. Valin, of Chicago, is the Editor 
of a new periodical, “The American Journal 
ef Biology.” 
Professor J. T. Rothrock, of Philadelphia, is 
reported as about to visit Europe in search of 
needed rest. 
Mr. William B Marshall is Professor Try- 
on’s capable assistant in his conchological 
labors. 
Professor Agassiz found scarcely a score of 
Helix Brasiliensis on his last visit to South 
America. 
is the authority | 
Dr. Muller of Austria, has been making 
some exiremely valuable observations on the 
action of the stomach upon fungi. 
Professor Alpheus Hyatt read a paper on the 
ns | “Primitive forms of Cephalopoda” before the 
of Wassa obsoleta, Say, collected by Miss | 
National Academy of Sciences, at its meeting 
November 10, 1886. 
Professor H. L. Osborne becomes the Editor 
of “The American Monthly Microscopical 
Journal” during the absence of Mr Hitchcock 
in Japan. 
Ex-President White, of Cornell, has lately 
donated his library of 30,000 volumes and 
10,000 pamphlets, valued at $100,000 to the 
University. 
W. Topley, F. G. S., delivered an address 
on “The Erosion of the Coasts of England 
and Wales”’ before the Geological Association 
of England, November 5, 1886. 
Miss Graceanna Lewis, of Germantown, 
Philadelphia, intends delivering a course of 
scientific lectures throughout the country. Miss 
Lewis is a sister of Professor H. Carvill Lewis, 
the noted Geologist. 
Dr. C. A. White has lately discovered the 
following new Cretaceous fossils: Trochus 
(Oxystele), euryostomus; Cerithium Pillingi; 
Cerithium Totium Sanctorum; Solarium 
Wallalense and Nerita Californiensis. 
Dr.C. W. Kimmins has delivered a very im- 
portant lecture before the Ley’s Natural History 
Society on “* The Discovery of Human Bones, 
Pottery, etc., at Hauxton Mills, near Cam- 
bridge, Eng.’ The skulls are neolithic and Dr. 
Kimmins is of the opinion that this find proves 
that neolithic men must have lived on into 
historic times. 
THE noted American Naturalist, Professor Te 
H. Ryder, makes the following capital sugges- 
tions—‘ Structures that are disappearing should 
be called vestiges. Structures which are still 
imperfect but are appearing Ought to be called 
rudiments.” 
