726 DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE CALYPTK-EIDJE. [June 2", 



vexis, ultimo angusto, rotundato, bast subnitido, costulis in um- 

 biliciim perspectivimi et ^ diametri ceqiiantem deseendentibus ; 

 apertura fere diagonali, lunari ; peristomate simplici, tenui. 

 Diam. maj. 0*08, min. 0'07, alt. 0"04 uiic, 

 Hab. Greystanes, New South Wales (Cox). 

 Easily distinguished from the nearly allied H. cochlidium, Cox, 

 by the difference in colour, and the fineness of the minute riblets, 

 which are also much more numerous than in its white plicately- 

 ribbed ally. 



10. Notes on the Specimens of Calyptrceida in Mr. Cuming^s 

 Collection. By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., 

 F.L.S., &c. 



Mrs. Gray having kindly undertaken to place some of the shells 

 of the late Mr. Cuming's collection on tablets, the specimens of 

 certain families have come under my supervision, and 1 have been 

 induced to make some observations that I thought might tend to 

 the better understanding of the species. I herewith send my notes 

 on the shells of the family CalyptrcBidce, and this paper may be 

 followed by some others of a similar character. 



I shall preface these notes by some observations on the collection 

 itself. 



I certainly should have considered the following observations un- 

 necessary if most exaggerated statements had not been published 

 respecting the collection, which are likely to mislead the public — such, 

 for example, as that each specimen had not only its name and its 

 special locality attached to it, but also the depth in the ocean at 

 which it was found, and that the specimens are in all instances the 

 actual types of the species from which the descriptions have been 

 taken. As this is not the case, it is necessary that some account of the 

 collection as it was received by the British Museum should be given, 

 in order that it may be properly understood by the scientific concho- 

 logists who may hereafter consult it. I have not the least intention 

 by the following remarks to depreciate the value of Mr. Cuming's 

 labours as a collector, or of his collection ; for every conchologist, both 

 scientific and amateur, is very greatly indebted to him for having 

 collected one of the largest and most perfect collections of shells ever 

 brought together ; for he not only collected extensively himself, but 

 he excited others to collect, and he left no stone unturned to obtain 

 from other collections in all countries such specimens as he wanted, 

 or from which, as types, species had been described ; and he also, 

 in the most free and liberal manner, opened the collection to the use 

 of such conchologists and iconographers as would fall into his views 

 as to the describing and naming of species. 



When I first saw the collection, fifteen or sixteen years ago, as 

 may be seen by my report to the Trustees of the British Museum, 



