REPORT 



SHELLS COLLECTED BY THE U. S. NAVAL EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



In making a report of the shells brought home by the Japan Expedition, we are entirely 

 indebted to the officers who collected them, and who could afford but little time from their 

 official duties to give to scientific purposes, for whatever information we have of their localities, 

 &c. 



Shells were collected at the following places : 



At Port Louis, in the island of Mauritius, a fine suite of shells were received from Mons. 

 Robillard. 



At Ceylon, a great number of the Helix hasmastoma. 



At Singapore, a few more were added from the coast of Mallacca, Sumatra, and the adjacent 

 islands. 



Canton river was dredged, and numerous varieties of Cytherea meretrix, Cytherea petechialis, 

 Cytherea morphina, Cytherea formosa, also Paludina ampullacea, Charp., and Paludina lecey- 

 thoida, Bens., were found. 



At Lew Chew, other varieties of the Cythereas above mentioned abounded. 



At the Bonin Islands, a single specimen of the Helix horiomphola, Pff., was picked up. 



The Bay of Yedo was dredged, but little of interest found except the Bullia Perryi. If this 

 should prove not to belong to the genus Bullia, it ought to constitute a new genus. 



A few land shells were collected in the vicinity of Tedo, resembling very closely some of our 

 American Helices, especially Helix Simodae, which in shape and color is allied to Helix pro- 

 funda, Say, but has not the tooth of the latter. A new Lymnea was also found near Simoda. 



At Volcano Bay the Mya Japonica was gathered in great abundance, and found to be very 

 good eating ; this shell bears a close resemblance to the Mya arenaria of New York, it being 

 nearly in the same latitude. Here also a number of very large specimens of the Mytilus ungu- 

 latus, Lam., were taken, which likewise proved delicious to the palate. 



At Hakodadi the large Pecten Yesoensis was found in great abundance ; also the Ostrea, which 

 is very similar, if not identical, with ours. 



The Fusus fornicatus, Gmel., and Purpura septentrionalis, Reeve, were among the collection, 

 but whether they were found in Japan is uncertain. 



A fine box of shells was also received from Manilla, containing a large number of land shells 

 from the Philippine Islands, which, however, were all found to have been previously described. 



