278 



M. D'Archiac on the Genus Murchisonia. 



The Arachnida are remarkable for their numerical strength, 

 their habits, and the size to which some of them attain. Epe'ira 

 fasciata, Walckenaer, appears to be the only Europaean spe- 

 cies inhabiting Chusan. 



With regard to the Entomology of Chusan (a collection of 

 insects having been despatched to the Museum of the Hon. the 

 Court of Directors, and a duplicate series by order of Govern- 

 ment to the Entomological Society of London), it must suffice 

 to state, that Indian forms prevail and Europaean forms are not 

 numerous. Many identical species occurred in the extensive 

 collections formed in the Khasyah Hills and Assam* in 1835- 

 36, by Messrs. M'Clelland and Griffith. Among the forms 

 characteristic of Chusan were a species of Tingis, a Centrolus, 

 and a brilliant golden green Agrion with black wings. 



[To be continued.] 



XXXII. — Notice of the Genus Murchisonia. 

 By M. D'ARCHiAcf. 

 On taking a survey of the numerous genera of the Gastero- 

 podous Mollusca, we find in many cases, especially in the 

 fossil genera, shells possessing the peculiar character of a 

 more or less deep sinus or notch on the right lip. Thus, 

 amongst the Natica we find Natica cincta (Phill. Geol. of 

 Yorksh., pt. 1. pi. 4. fig. 9), and perhaps Buccinum vittatum 

 (Phill. Geol. of Yorksh., pt. 2. pi. 16. fig. 14) , as well as several 

 other shells of pi. 15 of the latter work. Between Solarium 

 and Euomphalus we find the genus Schizostoma of Bronn, 

 and certain shells not yet classed from the lower oolite of 

 Calvados and the carboniferous limestone of Belgium. The 

 latter certainly do not present a proper notch on the last 

 whorl, but a certain number of holes, which close as the shell 

 advances in age, nearly in the same manner as in Haliotis. 

 Between Trochus and Turbo we find Pleurotomaria and Seis- 

 surella ; between Cerithium and Fusus the great genus Pleu- 

 rotoma. Lastly, Nerin&a, the situation of which does not 



* The richness and interest of the fauna and flora of the province of 

 Assam, which from its position is of our Indian dominions the one most 

 calculated to throw light upon the south-western part of China Proper 

 (Yunnan), may be inferred from the reports and collections of the two above- 

 named naturalists : Mr. Griffith has added further to our knowledge by the 

 botanical and zoological collections which he has continued forming by na- 

 tive collectors, trained and privately maintained by himself, in the Khasyah 

 Hills. 



t From the Bulletin of the French Geological Society, vol. xii. 1841. — 

 We are indebted for the translation to Thomas Johnson, Esq., of Hexham. 



