MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 24 
bears only one tutt of olfactory sete, instead of two tufts as in 
Astacus. ‘The reproductive organs differ considerably from those 
of Astacus, but closely resemble those of Palinurus; and this, taken 
with other points, shows that Pavanephrops is more nearly allied to 
Palinurus than to Astacus, though much more lkeithe latter in general 
appearance—thus justifying Professor Huxley’s classification, in 
which he placed the Palinuride and the Parasticide together under 
the name Astyla; while the Potamobiide, Homaride, &c., together 
formed the Stylophova, The paper was illustrated by three plates, 
giving figures of the appendages and various internal organs. 
3rd August, 1882._R. W. Fereday, Esq., vice-president, in 
the chair. 
Several books, &c., presented to the Society, were laid on the 
table. 
(1.) The following paper was read:—‘‘ Notes on some Branchiate 
Gastropoda,” by Professor F. W. Hutton. This paper contains 
descriptions, with figures, of the dentition of fifty-nine New 
Zealand marine molluscs, as well as various other notes. Covio- 
cella ophione (Gray), is described, and is shown to be different from 
the animal mentioned under this name in the “ Manual of New 
Yealand Mollusca,” p. 59, for which the name Lamelloria cerebvoides 
is proposed. LEuthvia striata (Hutton), formerly known only asa 
Wanganui fossil, is mentioned as living in Lyttelton Harbour. 
Trophon dubius (Hutton) is shown to belong to a new genus of 
Fuside, for which the name Tavon is proposed. 
Cominella maculosa (Martyn) is separated from C. testudinea 
(Chemnitz). Polytvopa quoyt is shown to be a-Trophon, and to be 
the same as P. vetiaria (Hutton). Polytvopa tristis is separated from 
P. scobina, and made a synonym of P. albomarginata (Deshayes). 
Attention is drawn to the similarities in the dentition of Nevita 
atvata and Chiton pellis-serpentis, indicating that the Rhipidoglossa 
may have sprung from the Polyplacophora. It is also pointed out 
that all the New Zealand species of Patella have the gills and 
mouth of Nacella, and that all have a small central plate on the 
radula. 
The following new species is described:—Diloma plumbea 
(Hutton). Shell depressed by turbinate, imperforate, rough, with 
a few obsolete spinal ribs; spine acute but usually eroded; 
colour bluish-purple, the aperture margined with a black band. 
In the discussion that followed, Prof. Hutton stated that, in his 
opinion, the dentition of the Gastropoda is of very great 
taxonomic value; far more so than the shell or the operculum. 
Like every other character, it is sometimes variable, but in most 
cases a knowledge of the dentition is necessary before the true 
position of a shell could be ascertained. 
(2.) Professor Hutton exhibited specimens of the rock from the 
Weka Pass cave, on which the paintings were drawn. These 
were shown under a lens, or still better under a microscope, to 
have a distinct coating of stalagmite, easily recognised by its 
texture and by the rock containing specs of a dark green mineral 
—glauconite,—which was absent in the stalagmitic coating. 
(3.) Mr. R. H. Webb asked Professor Hutton if he was satisfied 
that the fish caught in the Waimakariri, of which a drawing had 
been sent to Professor Baird in America for identification, was the 
