47S Cypraa reticulata and Cppraia histrio distinct. 



find a shell figured under the name of Cypraa reticulata, differing 

 in many respects from that afterwards known as C. histrio. Upper 

 and lower views of the shell are given, and the black spot which 

 characterizes this species is evident, though not conspicuous. 

 Marty n quotes none of the earlier figures, but he must have been 

 acquainted at least with that of Lister; from which I think we may 

 just'y infer, that he considered his own reticulata to be distinct 

 from Lister's shell. The habitat which Martyn assigns to his shell 

 — Friendly Islands — is worthy of note. 



In 17S7, Meuschen, in the Museum Gevcrsianum, mentions for 

 the first time Cyprasa histrio, by that name. I have not had an 

 opportunity to consult that work, and cannot therefore decide 

 whether his shell be identical with the one since known under that 

 name, nor whether authors are correct in assigning it precedence 

 over the Carleauiila of Chemnitz, published in the following year. 

 For the present, I must assume that their judgment is correct. 



In 17S8 appealed the 10th volume of Chemnitz's continuation 

 of Martini's Conchylien-Cabinet, where we find, under the name 

 of C. arl equina, two very good figures of what I regard as the true 

 C. histrio. In his descriptive text, Chemnitz quotes the figures of 

 Lister, Ivuorr, ami Martyn for his C. arlcauina. This latter refer- 

 ence seems to have been the first source of the inaccuracy which 

 has since prevailed; and yet some remarks at the close of his 

 description show that the peculiar characteristics of Marlyn's shell 

 had not escaped his practised eye, but that he considered it a 

 remarkable variety of his own G. arlequma. 



Such were the materials which existed at the time when Gmelin 

 commenced, in 1788, the publication of his edition of the Systema 

 Natures of Linnu'tis, of which edition it may be doubted, whether 

 it has not been of more hindrance than benefit to the cause of 

 science, so numerous ate its blunders, and so unpardonable the 

 carelessness of its compiler; I shall quote all ho says in relation to 

 the species before us. On page 3403, we find — 



" Cypraa histrio. C testa ovata,subtuibiiuit;'i, sublivido ocdlata, pubttis 

 planfi alba, ad latere incrassata, atrafuBco maeulata, linca dorsali 

 livida, fauce violacea. 



