728 DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE CAL.YPTR.«ID^. [Juue 27, 



Though, in the vast majority of cases, the shells more recently 

 named are to be regarded as the type specimens of the species described 

 and figured from Mr. Cuming's collection, unfortunately, from Mr. 

 Cuming's habit of replacing shells in his cabinet by better specimens 

 when they occurred, there is a certain amount of uncertainty as to 

 these shells being the types of the species described, the accuracy of 

 the determination resting in such cases on the accuracy of Mr. Cum- 

 ing's determination of their identity with the shells replaced ; but 

 there is no doubt that in the distinction of species and varieties Mr. 

 Cuming was very acute and is to be generally depended on. 



There is also another source of uncertainty. Mr. Cuming was in 

 the habit of sending to Dr. Pfeiffer, Reeve, Sowerby, and other de- 

 scribers and figurers of the species certain specimens from his dupli- 

 cates marked with the same number as that attached to his own 

 specimens ; and the determination of the species depended on the ac- 

 curacy with which these numbers were reported. I have observed 

 a few undoubted mistakes arising from this system, and therefore 

 believe that there may be others, though probably the number is not 

 large ; but these show the necessity of depending in all these cases 

 on the shell named agreeing with the description, rather than on the 

 fact that the specimens are so named in the collection. 



A very large number of species in the collection have been sepa- 

 rated on very slight characters, or on the slightest variation of form, 

 state, and colour. This has greatly arisen from the description and 

 figuring of shells lately made known chiefly falling into the hands of 

 dealers, like Mr. Reeve and Mr. Sowerby, or of persons employed 

 by dealers, who select for their purpose those who are ready to fall 

 into their views and make as many new species as possible ; and the 

 dealers are ready to repay such work with specimens to increase the 

 describer's collection, or in other ways. 



A shell with a new name is much more valuable in a pecuniary 

 point of view than one with an old and well-known name. 



The value dealers attach to new names is proved by an incident 

 that occurred to myself a few days ago, when a dealer offered me a 

 new Volute for ten guineas. I said it was not new, only a slight 

 variety of a well-known species. At length he admitted that he had 

 nine specimens of the Volute, and ended by offering to present me 

 with the best of the series if I would describe it as a new species ! I 

 am told that at length he found a person to fall into his views, and 

 sold all his specimens at or above the price first mentioned. A short 

 time ago a gentleman was induced to purchase a Volute at a high 

 price, on the understanding that if he purchased it it would be de- 

 scribed, figured, and named after him. This was done, though the 

 shell is only a slight variety of a well-known not uncommon South 

 Austrahan species. Fortunately the description was printed only on 

 a flyleaf with the plate, and it is not likely to be preserved. 



The paying for the description of species of animals is no new 

 source of trade, for it is recorded that John Reinhold Foster was 

 paid threepence a species for describing new British insects for a 

 scientific zoologist ; but dealers can now afford to pay better, as is 



