214 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
little-known specimens of New Zealand Shells.” The author says: 
‘*‘ Although just forty years have passed since I first detected and 
made known these shells, . . . I have good reasons for believ- 
ing they are still but little known. Their scientific descriptions, 
&c., were early noted in ‘“‘ Tasmanian Journal of Natural Science,” 
but I do not find them noticed in any of the modern conchological 
works in our library, under my own or any other specific names; 
neither are they included in the exhaustive ‘“‘ List of New Zealand 
Mollusca,” recently laboriously compiled from almost all concholo- 
gical authorities by Professor Hutton, and published last year by 
the New Zealand Government. I therefore conclude that they are 
still but little known. This, however, may easily be accounted for if, as 
I suppose, the single localities in which I separately found them are 
their only known habitats, as such are quite out of the way of both 
the scientific and the general traveller; and although I sought 
them diligently in my early and general collecting of shells in this 
country, I never met with these species anywhere else.” Then 
follows a description of the two shells. It is the first of these, viz. 
Patella solandvi, that is the subject of this note. From a com- 
parison of Mr. Colenso’s description with that of Acmea fragilis 
Chem.,andan examination of specimens forwarded by the author to 
the Colonial Museum, I am convinced that they are identical. 
With regard to the statement that this shell does not appear in any 
modern conchological work in the library of the Hawke’s Bay 
Philosophical Society, or in the ‘‘ Manual of New Zealand Shells,” 
recently prepared by Professor Hutton, and issued by the Colonial 
Museum and Geological Survey Department, I would direct 
attention to the fact that it is noted in the following works under 
the names attached :— 
1. Lottia fragilis (Q. and G.)—Gray Dieff., N.Z. II, p. 240. 
2. In a paper ‘On the Botany and Conchology of Great 
Omaha,” by Mr. T. Kirk, published in ‘“ Trans. N. Z. Inst.,” vol. 
V. p. 366, it is thus mentioned :—“ The singular Lottia fragilis, 
which resembles a fragment of greenish membrane adhering to 
the rock, is found at Matakana and Little Omaha, but is far from 
common. 
3. On page 43 of the “ Catalogue of Marine Mollusca of New 
Zealand,” prepared by Prof. Hutton, and published by the 
Colonial Museum authorities in 1873, the same shell appears 
under the name of Tectura fragilis (Quoy) with Lottia fragilis (Gray) 
as a synonym. 
4. Ina paper by Prof. Hutton, ‘“‘ Trans. N. Z. Inst.,” vol. X., 
p. 296, it is pointed out that Patella unguis-alme (Lesson.) is the 
same as Tectuva fragilis (Chem.) 
5. On page 88 of the “ Manual of New Zealand Mollusca,” 
recently published, it is noticed under the name of Acmea fragilis 
(Chem.) followed by a full synonym, and the remark that it is 
found from Auckland to Dunedin. 
I have myself collected it at Auckland, Wanganui, and Wel- 
lington. There are also specimens in the Colonial Museum, 
which were obtained at the Auckland Islands, It is therefore by 
no means the local shell supposed by Mr. Colenso; quite the 
contrary. T. W. Kirk. 
