326 BULLETIN OF THE 



This little shell has a general resemblance to A. egregia except in the par- 

 ticulars noted, is about one third less in length and two fifths less in maximum 

 diameter. The nucleus is nevertheless about four times larger than that part 

 in A. egregia. In both it is partially turned up, and more or less immersed 

 in the tirst normal whorl, like the European species, with which I have com- 

 pared it. 



Super-Family GYMNOGLOSSA. 



Family EULIMIDiE. 



Genus EULIMA Risso. 



Eulima Risso, Hist. Eur. Merid. Moll., IV. p. 123, 1826. First species, E. polita 

 Linne. 



The first discrimination of any part of this genns was the separation by 

 Bowdich, in 1822 (Elem. of Conchology, p. 27), of the genus Melania, as then 

 understood, into six groups, one of which, Melanella, was described as " semi- 

 transparent, mouth invaded by the last whorl, white, turrited, spire curved, 

 marine." The type, M. Dufresnei (pi. vi. fig. 17), is fairly well figured, and 

 is probably the shell generally known as Eulima major Sowerby, noted for its 

 distorted spire. The genus is assigned to M. Dufresne, but this is evidently a 

 mere compliment, as Bowdich in his foot-note says, * ' I have ventured to sepa- 

 rate the marine Melaniae, under the name of Melantho, the Melanella (in the 

 cabinet of M. Dufresne)," etc. 



In addition to the disagreeableness of doing away with a name so universally 

 adopted and appropriate as Eulima after sixty-two years of almost undisputed 

 use, it is particularly annoying to be called upon to apply to a genus remarka- 

 ble for the snowy whiteness of its species a name which implies that they are 

 black. There is, however, a way out of the difficulty, though not strictly reg- 

 ular, which the circumstances seem to justify. The principal character of 

 Melanella Bowdich is that the spire is curved. Risso's species, on the other 

 hand, are those with straight spires ; the only one he figures is a Liosiraca, and 

 his first species is E. polita. We may then retain the objectionable name of 

 Melanella for the humpbacked Eulimas, and Risso's name for the more normal 

 and elegant species. In this way the laws of nomenclature will not be in- 

 fringed, and our feelings will be less outraged.* 



Melanella was indicated by Blainville in 1825 as Subdivision C of his genus 

 Phasianella, and^ he figures the same species as the type (Manual, pi. xxxv. 

 fi!^^ o) under the name of Phasianella inflexa. 



There are many species in the West Indies, but only a few were collected by 

 the Blake. Beside those herein enumerated, the following species are known 



* Since the above was written, the subject has been discussed by Dr. Paul Fis- 

 cher in the Journal de ConchyUologie, Vol. XXVII. p. 192. 



