24, 
THE - CONCHOLOGISTS’ - EXCHANGE. 
With these conclusions fresh in mind, I re- 
quested my friend, Horace F. Carpenter, Esq., 
of Providence, R. I., a gentleman who is 
thoroughly versed in the mollusca of New Eng- 
land, to forward me some type specimens of 
the so-called S, Zottentana. This he kindly 
did, and a comparison of them with the Wissa- 
hickon shells served only to confirm my pre- 
vious deductions, which were also fortified by a 
like comparison of the animals. Some of the 
specimens received were of a slightly greenish- 
yellow tint, but the largest number were with- 
out it, which fact is another proof that the va- 
riation in color is a mere incident arising from 
peculiar food or slight climatic differences, and 
therefore of no practical value. All concholo- 
gists know that there are hundreds of species 
in which a difference in color has nospecific or 
varietal recognition whatever. 
Mr. Carpenter and myself subsequently col- 
lected quite a number of specimens at Lime 
Rock, near Providence, R. I., and every shell 
was brown in color. Mr. Carpenter assured me 
that these were good samples of New England 
S.  Totteniana, whatever their relationship 
might be to .S. od/égwa. If there is a difference 
in the form of the two shells, as is claimed by 
Mr. Binney, Mr. Tryon and others, I am un- 
able to see it. Nor do I believe that the figures 
of S. obligua and S. Totteniana, given in 
Gould’s “ Invertebrata of Massachusetts,” pages 
448 and 449 represent anything more than what 
might be the same shell taken at two stages of 
growth. I certainly have counterparts of each 
among my Wissahickon S. od/zgza, and can 
also match from the same lot, the several type 
specimens in the Philadelphia Academy’s col- 
lection, marked SS, Zot¢tentana, Lea. For these 
reasons I not only assume that the two species 
are absolutely one and the same, but will con- 
tinue to consider them so, unless opposing evi- 
dences of a more convincing character than 
those I have offered, shall be forthcoming. 
Philadelphia, August, 1887. 
Nore.—In Mr. Ford’s article on ‘The Uelices of 
Fairmount Park,” published in the July number, 
H. suppressus was inadvertently printed /7. suffusus. 
If there is such a species as H. suffusus Mr, Ford 
has not heard of it—EpITor. 
Subscribe to The Conchologists’ Exchange. 
VALVES. 
Mr. E. W. Roper, of Revere, Mass., writes : 
that while at Digby, Nova Scotia, this Summer, 
he collected a patriarchal specimen of Lz¢torina 
“ittorea, L., which measured one and three-fifths 
inches in length, and one and one-eighth inches 
in width. Its bulk was fully double that of the 
largest Massachusetts specimens. He noticed 
also that Purpura lapillus, Fusus decemcostatus, 
Neptunea curta, Acmea testudinals, Margarita 
helictna and others, were unusually large and 
perfect there. 
The Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sci- 
ences will be one of the seven learned bodies 
who will lend dignity and weight to the Con- 
stitutional Centennial Celebration in Philadel- 
phia, September 15th, 16th and 17th. They 
take part in the imposing reception and ban- 
quet of the 17th. 
Rey. F. X. Shulak, Professor of Natural His- 
tory in St. Ignatius College, Chicago, IIl., 
kindly informs us that the present Hall used 
for the display of Natural History objects, is 
too small for that purpose, and that he is now 
preparing a larger room for the cabinet. 
Dr. Sterki informs us that his friend, Dr. 
R. Hausler, is in New Zealand, traveling 
alone and engaged in collecting and studying 
the Mollusca, 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
WaisaG, 6c G.2S/somRinsub PAKeH 
Newport, R. I., July 20, 1887 
Editor Conchologists’ Exchange : 
Sir :—When last I saw -you a promise was 
given to write for insertion in your paper—a 
valuable little one I have found it—some of the 
results of my attempt at deep sea dredging. 
With a view to stimulate others about to inter- 
est themselves in the study of Malacology, I 
will give a brief outline of what I have succeed- 
ed in doing, and how it came about. 
In February, 1884, I was ordered to proceed 
to Washington, and report for duty upon the 
