338 PLIOCENE MOLLUSCA. 



sub-genus of Bursa (Ranella) but has been more correctly grouped by M. Cossmann 

 with the Muricinae, the present species being taken as the type. It was first 

 described as Ranella caudata but is now known to American conchologists under 

 the above generic name. 



The recent specimen here figured for comparison with our Crag shell I owe to 

 the courtesy of Mr. C. W. Johnson of the Boston Society of Natural History. He 

 informs me that E. caudata is a variable species, the northern and southern forms 

 differing considerably, certain named varieties being found also on the gulf coast 

 of Florida and the west coast of Mexico. As a fossil it occurs in the Pliocene 

 of Florida and South Carolina, while an allied species, E. miocenica is reported 

 doubtfully from the Miocene of North Florida. 



Var. Crowfootii (S. V. Wood). Plate XXXV, fig. 25. 



1879. Murez Crowfootii, S. V. Wood, Mou. Crag Moll., 2nd Suppl., p. 15, pi. i, fig. 15. 

 1890. Murex Crowfootii, C. Reid, Plioc. Dep. Brit,., p. 247. 



Varietal Character*. — Resembling generally the type form but being smaller,, 

 more slender in form, with a short spire and somewhat fewer costas. 



Dimensions. — L. 12 mm, B. 5 mm. 



Distribution. — -Fossil: Coralline Crag : Boyton. Waltonian : Little Oakley. 



Remarks. — The specimen figured under the above name is the one found at 

 Boyton by Mr. Crowfoot, one of the last three survivors of Wood's coadjutors. It 

 was considered by the latter as a new and distinct form and was very appropriately 

 named by him after its discoverer. I have since obtained another example of the 

 same kind at Oakley. 



It must be admitted that our fossils present a suspicious resemblance to the 

 figure of the American Ranella can data given by Grould (op. cit.) referred to in the 

 last paragraph, a view which a comparison with Mr. Johnson's shell supports, 

 Although not absolutely identical, we may regard them, I think without hesitation, 

 as a variety of that species. 1 With this my good friend Mr. Dollfus agrees, suggesting 

 they should retain Wood's name of Crowfootii as varietal. I am glad in this way 

 to keep alive the memory not only of the discovery of this little fossil by my old 

 colleague but also generally his connection with Crag work. 



The occasional occurrence of certain American forms in our Pliocene and 

 Pleistocene deposits is interesting, pointing possibly to the existence in former 

 times of westerly currents more or less similar to those which are now prevalent. 



1 Gould's figure of It. caudata (op. cit.) is more slender than Mr. Johnson's specimen, resembling 

 still more nearly our Crag fossils. 



