1867.] DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE CALYPTR.EID^. 72/ 



which is pubhshed in some of the Parliamentary Papers relative to 

 the Museum, the collection was without any names or habitats to the 

 species. The names have been added since Mr. Cuming's recovery, 

 and gummed to the mouth of one of the specimens of each preserved 

 species. These names were not affixed by the original describers 

 and figurers of the species, but by two well-known conchologists ; 

 and as they must be considered to rest on identification by the 

 latter and not by the original describers, this rather detracts from 

 their authenticity as absolute types of the species described. It 

 is to be regretted that when these names were attached the special 

 habitats of the specimens were not also marked on them. 



I am informed that as soon as any specimens were described 

 Mr. Cuming was in the habit of destroying the habitats sent with 

 them, as he said they could be discovered by looking at the work in 

 which they were described. This is certainly a very inconvenient 

 and roundabout way of arriving at the information required : if the 

 species was procured from two or more localities, one is not able to 

 discover which specimen belonged to each special locality. 



In many of the specimens, especially those that have not yet been 

 determined or named, the habitat, written on a small paper label, is 

 stuffed into the mouth of the shell. 



As yet I have not observed any indication of the depths in the 

 ocean whence the specimens were obtained. Indeed it was only 

 the specimens which Mr. Cuming or a few other collectors them- 

 selves dredged to which such an addition could be made ; and I 

 suppose that Mr. Cuming would also say that this could be obtained 

 from the work in which the species are described. But here, again, 

 the same uncertainty prevails ; which are the specimens that were 

 obtained at the depth indicated ? Perhaps all those that were referred 

 to when first described have been replaced by other and better spe- 

 cimens obtained at a very different depth ; for shells vary in size and 

 colour according to the depths at which they may have happened to 

 live. 



It was of necessity impossible that Mr. Cuming could have ascer- 

 tained the depth at which the shells lived that he obtained from 

 tiie various collections he selected from, or from other dealers*. 



* Indeed I am not willing to pay so much regard to the depth at which species 

 are said to have been obtained as some geologists appear to do, except when the 

 specimens are obtained at some special dredging. My faith was shaken by tiie 

 following fact : — A collection of shells was oftered to me for sale, at the time that 

 geologists were interested in the depth at which moUusca live, which I carefully 

 examined ; but as it contained many duplicates I declined it, and it was purchased 

 by a respectable dealer. And what was my astonishment, when the collection was 

 offered to me to select from, to find that each species was marked with the depth 

 at which it was obtained, for which there was not the slightest authority ; but the 

 subject of depth was exciting interest at the time, and its being attached to the 

 specimen was supposed to give them an additional value ; and 1 regret to say I 

 have seen these pretended depths quoted in a geological work as if they were true. 

 Persons who have theories to propose or support are often not sufficiently alive 

 to the great necessity of examining the authority of the statements which they 

 receive and quote as facts, or the readiness with which persons, when money is to 

 be made by the subject, are willing to stretch a point to suit their purpose. 



