INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, PHILADELPHIA. 121 



Melongena corona Gmelin. 

 Murex corona Gmelin, Syst. Nat. 3552, 1768. 

 Melongena corona Tryon, Man. iii. p. loS, pi. 41, figs. 199-203, 18S1. 



Post-Pliocene of North Creek, Little Sarasota Bay ; also of the Myakka 

 or Miacca River of S. W. Florida (Willcox). It is a member of the recent 

 fauna extending from the Florida Keys along the shores of the Gulf of 

 Mexico, and southward to Yucatan and Guadeloupe Island, W. I. 



The variety without spines and with a turrited spire, corresponding to 

 variety aspinosa of M. subcoronata and variety turricula of M. sculpturata, is 

 known as M. Martiniana Phil. There are two quite well-marked varieties of 

 the spiny sort. One in which the spines are distant, strong and long, and 

 stand out at right angles to the general surface, is found exclusively on rocky 

 ground, especially the shoals frequented by the " raccoon " oyster. The other 

 has the posterior series of spines curved inward at their tips toward the spire, 

 the anterior series less prominent; the number of the spines is greater, and 

 they are, of course, much closer set. This form is found on the mud and sand- 

 beaches only, and the variety Martiniana is an extreme example of it. The 

 correlation of the surface-characters with the character of the ground on 

 which they live is direct and conspicuous. Of course, dead shells or stray in- 

 dividuals may occasionally be found out of their proper habitat, but this is to 

 be expected, and does not invalidate the evidence of the great mass of living 

 individuals. 



The variety named M. Belknapii by Petit is a specimen of the southern 

 form (which is, as usual, more neatly sculptured and brightly colored than 

 northern specimens), which has the spines paired instead of single. This is 

 an individual mutation rarely observed in most spiny Gastropods. I have 

 frequently noted it in Melongena, Fulgnr, etc., but it is an individual, not a racial 

 or varietal character, in the sense in which those terms are usually employed. 



Regarded as a descendant of M. sribcoronata, this species is more spiny, or 

 rather, in the analogous varieties, it has more prominent spines, its surface- 

 sculpture is less prominent, and it is on the whole of smaller size. The largest 

 specimen I have ever seen measured 130x80 mm., was thin and light, and 

 almost destitute of spines on the shoulder, those on the base being wholly 

 absent. Compared with the adult subcoro7iata, it is a smaller, much lighter 

 and more slender shell, and of quite a different habit. The operculum does 

 not differ essentially from that of Fnlgiir and Fasciolaria. 



Melongena consors Sowerby. 

 Pyrula consors Sby., Geol. Journ. vi. p. 49, 1S50. 

 Melongena melongena Gabb iiwn Linn), op. cit. p. 205, 1873. 

 Pyrula ? melongena Guppy, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. 1876, p. 523. 



Miocene of Santo Domingo. 



An examination of Gabb's specimens confirms me in the opinion that his 



