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Descriptions of forty-nine New Species of the Genus MELANIA, 

 BY ISAAC LEA. 

 (Read May 21st, 1S61.) 



During the past and present years, I have read several papers describing 

 new species of Unionidce and Alela?udce, kindly sent to me by E. R. Showalter, 

 M. D., of Uniontown, Alabama, a Correspondent of our Academy, who has 

 been unremitting in his exertions to make known the natural history of that 

 part of the State. In these papers there were few species of the genus ilelania. 

 They were purposely delayed with a view to bring them as much together as 

 possible ; and the present paper will exhibit the vast expansion there of Zoolo- 

 gical life in this single genus, the Coosa River really appearing to be the 

 Zoological centre of this particular group. 



The great variety of form, color and size will at once strike the Naturalist, 

 and he will be surprised in the examination of these forms to observe how few 

 there are of tuberculate or plicate species, which so well characterise the 

 members of the same family, in the streams which form the Tennessee and 

 Cumberland rivers at no great distance. 



MelaxiaHartmaxiana. — Testa la;vi,conica, magna, vel tcnebroso-corned vel 

 tenebroso-oliva, valde vittata, imperforata ; spira obtuse conica ; suturis valde" 

 impressis ; anfractibus subplanulatis, instar septenis, ultimo grandi ; apertura 

 grandi, ovato-rhomboided, intus brunneo-vittata, ad basim obtuse angulata ; 

 labro acuto ; columella incurvata. 



Hab. — Coosa and Cahawba Rivers, Alabama. E. R. Showalter, M. D. 



Melaxia Lewisii. — Testa striata, subcylindracea, tenebroso-virente, valde 

 vittata; spira subelevata, conoidea ; suturis valdd impressis; anfractibus 

 planulatis, sulcatis, instar seni's ; apertura parviuscula, ovato-rhomboidea. 

 intus valde vittata, ad basim obtuse angulata ; labro acuto ; columella alba et 

 incurvata. 



Hab. — Coosa and Talapoosa Rivers, Alabama. E. R. Showalter, if. D. 



Melaxia elliptica. — TestA lsevi, elliptica, luteola, quadrivittata ; spira. 

 brevi, obtusa, ad apicem plicate ; suturis impressis ; anfractibus senis, sub- 

 convexis : apertura subgrandi, elongato-elliptica, intus quadrivittatS-, ad 

 basim obtuse angulata ; labro acuto ; columella albida et incurvata. 



Hab. — Coosa River, Alabama. E. R. Showalter, M. D. and E. Foreman, M. D. 



Melasia rubiccsda. — Test4 valde striata, rubida, subfusiformi ; spira sub- 

 elevata. conoidea : suturis impressis ; anfractibus instar senis, convexiusculis ; 



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