CHIEFLY OF THE UNITED STATES. 181 



examination it appears to us that S. aperta and S. aurea are well established species ; 

 that Wardiana is synonj'mous with avara, Say ; ToUeniana with ovalis, Say ; Nuttal- 

 '''ana with ovaiis, Gould ; inflata with campestris, Say ; that retnsa is probably 

 synonymous with ovalis, Gould ; and that Oregonensis cannot be at present ascer- 

 tained." All naturalists must regret introducing this kind of confusion in a difficult 

 branch of science, and had Dr. Binney given more time to the subject — my types 

 being always open to his inspection — I cannot doubt but that he would have avoided 

 this attack upon my species. His editor, Dr. Gould, has in part corrected his 

 synonymy, and Mr. W. G. Binney, in the continuation of his father's beautiful work 

 (Vol, iv.), makes further correction of these hasty and erroneous criticisms. Dr. 

 Gould says that Nuttaliana " no doubt is a well marked species," — of course it is not 

 ovalis, Gould ; that Oregonensis is " decidedly a well marked species." ToUeniana, 

 Dr. Gould says, differs from ovalis. Say, that " it is a thinner and more fragile shell, 

 proportionally more ventricose in form, with a shorter spire, a larger aperture," &c. 

 Mr. W. G. Binney says, in Vol. iv. p. 34, that in regard to inflata he " is inclined to 

 doubt its specific weight." On a careful examination and comparison of specimens 

 with campestris, sent to me as such by Dr. Eavenel from Sullivan's Island, South 

 Carolina, I find these agree with the description of Mr. Say and Dr. Binney, except 

 that the full-grown specimens show a fourth whorl, and not three, as both authors 

 state in their description. This, I think, arises from their mode of counting. If a 

 fourth whorl can be seen on a specimen, even if it be not complete, I always count 

 as four whorls, as fractions cannot conveniently and correctly be enumerated in small 

 shells. My inflata has but three whorls, is smoother, more inflated and more obtuse 

 in the spire. With these differences it ought not to be made a synonym until more 

 observations under better circumstances should prove it to be such. As regards 

 Totteniana, Mr. W. G. Binney says he " agrees entirely with Mr. Lea and Dr. Gould 

 in separating it from ohliqua. Say." 



After a careful examination of the original specimens, with the addition of subse- 

 quent acquisitions, I am perfectly satisfied of the correctness of my first convictions 

 as to their being eight species, which Dr. Binney would reduce to two ; and they 

 may be stated as follows : 



S. aperta. Dr. Binney allows to be established. 



S. aurea. Dr. Binney allows to be established. 



S. retusa. Dr. Binney says is probably ovalis, Gould. It differs, nevertheless, in 



being retuse at the base and in being less inflated. 

 S. Wardiana. Dr. Binney says is synonymous with avara, Say. But Wardiana is a 



more slender species, and is more oblique. It is evident that Dr. B. figures 



two species under this name. PI. 57, c, 



46 



