THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION 79 
specimen now presented was brought up dead, in the Persian Gulf, 
at 27 fathoms. There is nothing unusual in this, since the ranee 
of the Muricidz is from low water to 25 fathoms, according to the 
naturalists of a past generation. 
“‘The Imperator,’* dredged at 47 fathoms, in the Persian 
Gulf (brought up dead), is one of the Turbinide vegetable (Alga) 
feeders, restricted to the Laminarian Zone. Some little time ago, 
it was stated, an American collector had found in a shallow pool 
inside a coral reef, no less than five specimens of the Conus Gloria 
Maris. I quite forget in what sea. It is not very many years 
since a single specimen was sold for 50 guineas. The rarest 
shell in existence, however, is a cone in the British Museum, 
named ‘‘The Cone of the Holy Mary,’* valued at £500 sterling. 
Ever since Mrs. Carey removed from the Museum to Dun- 
durn her fine collection of modern sea shells, we have been at- 
tempting gradually to replace it. These cannot be properly ar- 
ranged and correctly named except-we can consult a work of 
established repute on the subject. The number of species former- 
ly put down as 29,000, have, of recent years, been considerably 
increased. The cones alone number over 300. 
We all know the assistance afforded Paleontologists by the 
study of modern sea and fresh water shells. A work on Conchol- 
ogy in the Public Library here is of very little use to us, since the 
colors are not shown. The cost of Tyron’s Works on Malachology 
is considerable. We cannot expect the Hamilton Scientifie As- 
sociation (situated as we are at present) to incur the heavy ex- 
pense of the purchase. It is a work of permanent value. I am 
told each family of the Mollusca has been given a separate volume. 
The complete books may not be required. If the Library Board 
could be induced to obtain a volume or two on “‘The Strombide,”’ 
Muricide, say this year, leaving ‘‘The Bucinide,’’ Conide, or 
Volutide to the next, it would considerably assist us in properly 
arranging and naming the specimens in. the cases. Our collec- 
tion of modern shells certainly requires some few additions, types, 
ete. The writer recalls a lecture on ‘‘Museums,’’ by a famous 
