1 88 2.] Zoology. 737 



It is a well-known fact that Rafinesque was, for a long time, 

 Professor of Natural History in the old Transylvania University 

 at Lexington, Kentucky. He made frequent excursions on foot 

 through the wildest portions of the State, in pursuit of his favorite 

 studies. As this little animal occurs so far north in the Appa- 

 lachians as the northern line of North Carolina, it is within the 

 range of Rafinesque's explorations without a doubt. He had 

 doubtless seen it often, and if he may have mixed localities in 

 regard to this animal, it is no more than all early students of our 

 fauna did, and none to a greater extent than those who have been 

 his most uncompromising critics. 



This skunk is said by the inhabitants to be quite common at 

 Roan, although this is the only one which I saw. The M. mcphil- 

 ica also occurs, and a semi- melanotic variety of the Sdunts luid- 

 sonicus. This beautiful little squirrel is less reddish than the 

 northern variety, has a white belly and the lower half of the 

 body, on each side, between the fore and hind legs, and shading 

 off on the hips and shoulders, very dark— nearly black in well- 

 marked specimens. It is considerably larger than the northern 

 "pine squirrel," but has the same habit of choosing evergreen 

 trees for its abode. The native people call it the " mountain 

 boomer."— A. G. Wetherby. 



Note on Gadinia excentrica Tiberi.— Twelve years ago I 

 pointed out that this species was probably not a Gadinia, and did 

 not belong to the Pulmonata, but until recently I had never seen 

 a specimen. One just : 

 Mediterranean proves o 

 sonia (Rhiphidoglossa) closely allied to if not identical with the 

 A. paradoxa Dall, recently described from the deep sea .bed off 

 the coast of New England The close resemblance or identity 

 of so many Mediterranean recent and Pliocene Italian forms with 



tures of geographical distribution.— IV. H. Dall. 



Molluscan Notes.— On August 26, 18S0, I found in the Hud- 

 son river, n< ir Catskilt landing L > 'ax s ' iriuata Say, quite 

 • l! >"nd int. This r think is a new localitv for this species. 



On Sept. 22, 1SS1, 1 found Uitorina littorca I. inn., on rocks at 

 Lloyds Neck, ( )ueens countv, Long Island. I believe this to be 

 the first taken~on the Long Island side of the sound.— /Aw/ 



en of American woodcock ( Phiiohcla //. 

 iimp of persimmon trees on the border 



e bird has the habit of rising above ; 

 suddenly dropping behind it out of 1 



