List of Shells collected at Purissima and Lobitas, California, October, 1866.

BY ROBERT E. C. STEARNS, CURATOR OF CONCHOLOGY, CAL. ACAD. NAT. SCIENCES.

“Purissima” and “Lobitas” are the names of two creeks situated a few miles south of Spanish Town, in San Mateo County. Near the points where these streams empty into the ocean are small beaches and groups of flat rocks left bare at low tide, limited, however, in extent, as the shore in the neighborhood is for the most part exceedingly bold and precipitous, the ocean at ordinary high water beating against the base of the cliffs.

Dr. Newcomb and myself visited the localities at the period above mentioned, and collected the following species from among the drift or upon the rocks:

1. Waldheimia Grayi, Davidson.
2. Navea Newcombii, Tryon.
3. Zirphæa crispata, Linn.
4. Pholadidea penita, Conr.
5. —— ovoidea, Gould.
6. Netastomella Darwinii, Sby.
7. Parapholas Californica, Conr.
8. Saxicava pholadis, Linn.
9. Platyodon cancellatum, Conr.
10. Schizothærus Nuttalli, Conr.
11. Lyonsia Californica, Conr.
12. Mytilimeria Nuttalli, Conr.
13. Macoma inconspicua, Br. & Sby.
14. Standella falcata, Gld.
15. Tapes staminea, Conr.
16. —— ruderata, Desh.
17. Tapes diversa, Sby.
18. Rupellaria lamellifera, Conr.
19. Petricola carditoides, Conr.
20. Lazaria subquadrata, Cpr.
21. Kellia Laperousii, Desh.
22. Mytilus Californianus, Conr.
23. —— edulis, Linn.
24. Modiola fornicata, Gld.
25. Adula falcata, Gld.
26. —— stylina, Cpr.
27. Hinnites giganteus, Gray.
28. Placunanomia macroschisma, Desh.
29. Doris albopunctata, Cooper.
30. Cryptochiton Stelleri, Midd.
31. Katherina tunicata, Wood.
32. Tonicia lineata, Wood.
33. Mopalia muscosa, Gld.
34. —— Hindsii, Gray.
35. —— lignosa, Gld.
36. Acanthopleura scabra, Rve.
37. Nacella vernalis, Dall (mss.)
38. —— instabilis, Gld.
39. Acmæa patina, Esch.
40. —— pelta, Esch.
41. —— Asmi, Midd.
42. —— persona, Esch.
43. —— spectrum, Nutt.
44. Lottia gigantea, Gray.
45. Scurria mitra, Esch.
46. Glyphis aspera, Esch.
47. Clypidella callomarginata, Cpr.
48. —— bimaculata, Dall (mss.)
49. Haliotis Cracherodii, Leach.
50. —— rufescens, Swains.
51. Chlorostoma funebrale, A. Ad.
52. —— brunneum, Phil.
53. —— Pfeifferi, Phil.
54. Calliostoma canaliculatum, Mart.
55. —— costatum, Mart.
56. Margarita pupilla, Gould.
57. Crepidula adunca, Sby.
58. —— navicelloides, Nutt.
59. —— var. nummaria, Gld.
60. —— var. explanata, Gld.
61. Hipponyx cranioides, Cpr.
62. Litorina planaxis, Nutt.
63. —— scutulata, Gld.
64. Lacuna porrecta, Cpr.
65. —— unifasciata, Cpr.
66. Isapis obtusa, Cpr.
67. Erato vitellina, Hinds.
68. Drillia torosa, Cpr.
69. Scalaria Indianorum, Cpr.
70. —— subcoronata, Cpr.
71. Opalia borealis, Gld.
72. Velutina prolongata, Cpr.
73. Olivella biplicata, Sby.
74. —— intorta, Cpr.
75. Nassa fossata, Gld.
76. —— perpinguis, Hds. ?
77. —— mendica, Gld.
78. Amycla gausapata, Gld.
79. Amphissa corrugata, Rve.
80. Purpura crispata, Chem.
81. —— var. septentrionalis, Rve.
82. Purpura saxicola, var. ostrina, Gld.
83. Monoceros engonatum, Conr.
84. Ocinebra lurida, Midd.
85. —— var. aspera, Baird.
86. —— var. munda, Cpr.
87. —— interfossa, Cpr.
88. Cerostoma foliatum.
89. Octopus —— (n. s.?)

Navea Newcombii, alive in Haliotis Cracherodii. Nos. 4, 5, 6, 25, and 26 alive in soft shale between tide marks. Doris albopunctata, two specimens alive on rocks near low water mark. Of the Chitons, Nos. 31 and 36, particularly abundant; of the others named several specimens obtained, also one or two species undetermined. 41, common, alive, on Chlorostoma funebrale. 45 and 46, several living specimens between tide marks. 47 and 48, I think, are distinct species; suggest Lucapina, but foramen nearly twice as large as in shells of the latter of same size, differing also in sculpture and weight of shell. 49, animal lives for a long time, and affixes itself tenaciously to the rocks after the shell is removed. 63 and 65, together living on rocks near high-water mark, and on eel grass in pools left by the tide. 89, perhaps young of Mr. Gabb’s species O. punctatus; two living specimens, as yet undetermined, probably a new species.

Professor Silliman read a paper “On Naphtha and Illuminating Oil from Heavy California Tar (Maltha), and on the probable Origin of Petroleum.” This paper is omitted by the Publication Committee, as it had already been published in the American Journal of Science at the time it was read before the California Academy.

Prof. W. P. Blake read the following communications: