246 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. VOL, XXXIV. 
— 
“La belle Science,” and, at the same time, of adding solid informa- 
tion to that already on record. | 7 
For the data accumulated in this paper I am indebted especially, 
among others, to Dr. R. H. Tremper, Messrs. Herbert N. Lowe and 
I. W. Kelsey, and the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 
Genus CLISTAXIS Cossmann. - 
Some years ago Doctor Jeffreys proposed for a deep-water species 
the name Cryptaxis, which proved to be preoccupied by Lowe in 
land shells and for which Cossmann substituted Clistaxis. The shell 
resembles Cylichna (=Bullinella Newton), but has the spire almost 
concealed. Jeffreys afterwards referred to this genus a shell, @. 
crebripunctatus, from the 7riton dredgings, which has somewhat the 
form of Scaphander, but with the spire, except the apex of the 
nuclear shell, concealed. Whether this form is of the same genus 
as the original type, C. parvula Jetfireys, seems doubtful, but is too 
complicated a question to enter upon at this time. A _ species re- 
lated to C. crebripunctatus, and which appears to be undescribed, 
was collected by Prof. F. W. Kelsey, in 50 fathoms off the entrance 
to San Diego Harbor. Two specimens were obtained, showing that 
the animal is contained within the shell, where it had been allowed to 
dry. In contracting, the test was badly shattered, but showed very 
strong spiral rows of punctations. A much smaller specimen was 
better preserved and affords the following notes: 
* CLISTAXIS? POLYSTRIGMA, new species. 
Shell small, white, barrel-shaped, with the posterior part of the 
outer lip extending slightly beyond the apex of the shell; form much 
as in Haminea solitaria Say; apex sunken, imperforate, the spire 
concealed; outer lip partly membranous and contracting in drying, 
the shell normally covered with a thin periostracum, which in dry- 
ing splits and contracts; sculpture of close, numerous, spiral rows of 
emphatic punctations, covering the shell; aperture ample; outer lip 
thin and submembranous, its posterior extremity rounded over 
evenly to the suture, the anterior part not expanded; pillar lip thin, 
arcuate, the margin reflected, forming a gutter just outside the mar- 
gin; body with little callus, only one whorl visible. Length of 
young shell, 2.8; maximum diameter, 2.2 mm. 
Type.—Cat. No. 110649, U.S.N.M. In 50 fathoms, off entrance 
to San Diego Harbor, F. W. Kelsey. | | 
The adult is at least three times the length above given. ‘The sott 
parts do not envelop the shell. ‘The dried animal shows through its 
translucency the bases of three white gizzard plates which it is im- 
possible to extract owing to the fragility of the shell. It is possible, © 
however, to see that the plates are long, narrow, straight, parallel- 
