342 MESSES. MELV1LL AND STANDEN OH [June 18, 



immersed more than 3 or 4 years, the common species being 

 0. imbricata Lam. From Kishire to Jask the two cables are in 30 

 to 50 fathoms, bottom mostly blue mud, the shell and weed growth 

 being considerable in most places where they have been laid any 

 length of time, but only off Mussandam is it as great as on the Fao 

 cable. The original Persian Gulf cable, which was condemned in 

 1885, was picked up as opportunity offered during the next few years, 

 200 or 300 miles being recovered after I joined the Department in 

 1887. Unfortunately I took no interest in shells at that time, for 

 there has never been such a good opportunity for a collector since 

 the old cable was all removed. Two miles an hour is the maximum 

 speed at which the cable is wound in, and when recovering this 

 old cable it often took 6 and 8 men, working as hard as they 

 could, to shovel the shells and weed overboard as it came in. In 

 recovering one length of about 20 knots, hundreds of the very 

 pretty Latiaxis diadema Sowb. came in, and I saved some on account 

 of their beauty to give away, and when I commenced to collect 

 for myself I found 1 still had a couple of specimens. Since that 

 time not a single example has been procured. 



There does not seem to be anything more of interest to say about 

 the places where collecting has been done, but any one wishing 

 further information on the Gulf generally, might find all they want 

 in the ' Persian Gulf Pilot,' an Admiralty publication, which can be 

 obtained from J. D. Porter, 11 King Street, Tower Hill, London. 



F. W. Townsend. 



Mr. B. T. Ffinch, CLE., Director General of Indian Telegraphs, 

 Captain W. A. Tindall of the s.s. ' Patrick Stewart,' Mr. Julian 

 Adrian O'Maley, of the same ship, and other friends of 

 Mr. Townsend, have aided him in his researches by all means in 

 their power ; and we are requested by him to say that had it not 

 been for the kindness especially of Captain Tindall, ably seconded 

 by all his officers and crew, much would have been left undone, 

 notably the deep soundings and dredgings in the Gulf of Oman. 



We would take this opportunity ourselves of thanking Mr. 

 Townsend for all the care and zeal bestowed by him in the col- 

 lecting and preserving of his collections, it is, indeed, but rarely 

 that they come to hand in such perfect order. And we must also 

 record our indebtedness for advice and assistance to Mr. W. T. 

 Blanford, F.R.S., Mr. Edgar A. Smith, F.Z.S., Mr. Hugh Fulton, 

 Mr. G. B. Sowerby, F.L.S., Mr. Alexander Abercrombie, Com- 

 mander Shopland, R.I.M., Mr. W. E. Hovle, F.R.S.E., Mr. W. 

 Neville Sturt, the Rev. Professor Gwatkin", D.D., and Mr. E. R. 

 Sykes, F.Z.S. Nor must we forget Mr. Stephen Pace, who examined 

 with much care the whole of the Columbellidse, and gave us the 

 benefit of his wide experience in the arrangement of this difficult 

 family, which we have followed implicitly. We are also obliged 

 to Mr. C. Davies Sherborn, F.Z.S. , for information on one or two 

 points of nomenclature. 



Regarding the Classification adopted in this Catalogue, we have 

 relied on the generic sequence proposed by P. Pelseneer in his 



