MIOCENE MOLLUSCA AND CRUSTACEA. 5 ( J 



Mr. Conrad says under the second description that he found only one 

 valve of the above species. What is supposed to be that one I have now 

 before me. It is badly broken and some portions from the middle of its 

 length gone; so that to make any very positive statement in regard to its 

 affinities might lead to some misunderstanding. Still I do not believe it to be 

 specifically distinct from the many specimens of Carditamera of much larger 

 size tha*t are found in the Miocene marls at Shiloh, N. J., the locality from 

 which Mr. Conrad's specimen was obtained. I have before me also speci- 

 mens which I have referred to C. arata Con. of sizes from about half the 

 length of Conrad's C. aculeata to that of the large one which I have figured 

 as G. arata, and I can find no evidence of any specific distinction among 

 them, and can see no reason to suppose them distinct from the C. arata as 

 it occurs farther south. At the time Mr. Conrad described C. arata he dis- 

 tinctly stated that it occurs in Cumberland County, N. J., and there is no 

 doubt that he at that time considered them all as identical with the Virginia, 

 North Carolina, and Maryland specimens. These remarks are of course 

 based upon the specimen which is supposed to be his type. I would not, 

 however, make the same remarks had I only Mr. Conrad's figure, given in 

 the American Journal of Conchology, to judge from. The figure shows a 

 form somewhat different, especially in the broad, rounded posterior end, 

 and more .deeply sinuate basal border; but I have seen no specimen which 

 corresponds in these particulars, and should not suppose the figure could 

 have been made from the shell which comes to me under the name C. acu- 

 leata. In all respects except the outline the specimen might answer to the 

 figure, but in this feature as well as in the general characters it agrees 

 with C. arata, and I shall consequently retain the name C. aculeata provi- 

 sionally as a species not recognized except by Conrad's figure and descrip- 

 tions. 



