416 ‘ Bulletin American Museum of Natural History - [Vol. LII1 
part of the valve the periostracum has a sculpture of minute concentric 
strize interrupted by narrow smooth or striate rays, as though a comb 
had been drawn toward the beaks when the striee were soft. Such 
sculpture is found in many fresh-water mussels. In some specimens the 
radi are wanting. Coarse sculpture of the posterior slope diverging 
from the posterior ridge, such as Putzeys figures for cryptoradiata, is an 
occasional but inconstant feature. The interior is faintly pink and blue. 
Length of the hinge from beaks to sinulus is contained 2% times in that of 
the shell. ‘The muscle scars are but little impressed. 
Length, 67 mm.; height, 32 mm.; diameter, 20.5 mm. 
eae eae, 5 ee ees 
We are unable to discriminate between A. protchet and Spatha 
cryptoradiata Putzeys. The distinctions pointed out. by Germain! do 
not appear to hold good, since in the same lot we find specimens agreeing 
with protchet together with others having the characters of cryptoradiata. 
The latter was found to be abundant in the Chari. 
A. sinuata and A. stuhlmanni of von Martens have the beaks farther 
forward than in A. protchez. : 
Aspatharia chapini, new species. ; 
Plate XXXIV, Figures 4 and 4a; Plate XLII, Figure 3 
Congo River at Leopoldville (J. Bequaert Coll.). 
_ The shell is moderately solid, rather inflated, squarish, highest at the posterior 
third, the height decidedly more than hal! of the length. Length-before the beaks 
contained about 34 times in the total length. The nearly straight dorsal and ventral 
margins converge anteriorly; anterior margin rounded, posterior steeply, obliquely 
truncate, rounded below. ‘The posterior ridge is broadly rounded; above and parallel 
to it there is a low radial rib in the right valve, two in the left. On the posterior-dorsal 
slope there are a few short wrinkles diverging upward from the ridge. The periostra- 
cum is glossy, with weak growth lines, becoming dull and more or less laminiferous 
toward the base and ends, and minutely crinkled in places. In color it is a very deep 
brown on the polished portion, elsewherg blackish. The interior is vinaceous-pink, 
iridescent ‘posteriorly. The hinge, from beaks to sinulus, is contained 114 times in the 
total length, is very slightly curved, and quite obliquely truncate posteriorly, the 
sinulus rather semi-circular and not very deep. The ligament is partially immersed. 
The muscle scas are well impressed; foot protractor scar lengthened as usual; foot 
retractor scar small, separate. 
i Length, 77.5 mm.; height at beaks, 39 mm. ; at posterior third, 44 m.; diameter, 
mm. 
The short, squarish shape, very steep posterior truncation and 
rather inflated valves appear to be characteristic. Probably the upper 
slope will show more corrugation when younger or less extensively 
eroded individuals come to light. 
~~ 11909, Bull. Mus. Hist, Nat, Paris, pp. 543-544. 
