272 BULLETIN OF THE 



Family FOSSARID^. 



Genus FOSSARUS Philippi. 



The name Maravignia given by Aradas and Maggiore has been preferred by 

 some naturalists to that of Philippi, proposed in the same year. I have not 

 yet seen any evidence of priority of actual publication which should oblige us 

 to make this substitution. A name so universally adopted should not be 

 changed without absolutely conclusive evidence. 



Of Fossarus properly speaking, two species, F. Orbigmji Fischer (F. sulcatus 

 Orbigny, non S. Wood) and F. elegans Verrill (F. latericeus Verrill olim) are 

 known from the Antilles and the Eastern United States. 



Isapis anomala C. B. Adams, was described from Jamaica. We have now 

 to add two small species, which seem to range from Florida to Cape Hatteras, 

 having been obtained off the coast of North Carolina, in less than 100 fms., by 

 the U. S Fish Commission. They appear to belong to the subgenus Gottoina 

 of A. Adams, which is described as imperforate, solid, and ornamented with 

 spiral sculpture. I have not seen a typical specimen of Gottoina, which, more- 

 over, has not been figured, so I refer these species to it on account of their ap- 

 parent relation to Fossarus and the description of Gottoina aforesaid. 



Subgenus GOTTOINA Adams. 

 Gottoina bella n. s. 



Plate XXVIII. Fig. 10. 



Shell small, white, solid, shaped much like Litorina litorea, having four and 

 a half whorls and a minute glassy rounded nucleus. Radiating sculpture con- 

 sisting of fine incremental striae and occasional irregularities of growth. Spiral 

 sculpture of two sorts; — 1st, fine spiral grooving covering the' whole shell 

 evenly and always present; 2d, strong spiral ridges, generally nine or ten on 

 the last whorl, but sometimes smaller and more numerous, sometimes partly 

 absent, sometimes so arranged as to tabulate the part of the whorl next the 

 suture, and almost invariably smaller and weaker as they approach the base 

 and the centre of the base. Suture distinct, not channelled; aperture simple, 

 nearly circular, but the outer margin of its thickened edge angulated at the 

 junction with the body; callus continuous; columella arched, with a small 

 chink, but no umbilicus behind it; this chink varies in size with diflPerent 

 specimens. Aperture oblique, its upper margin a little depressed. Alt. 3.5 

 mm. ; max. diam. 3.5 mm. 



Habitat. Sand Key, 15 fms. 



This pretty little shell sometimes has the raised riblets reddish brown against 

 the waxen white of the rest. The nucleus is smaller and less elevated than in 

 Fossarus amhiguus, from which, by the way, Gould's F. pusillus does not ap- 

 pear to differ specifically. 

 March 30, 1889. 



