Peter
(on killer whales - I remembered about "pod" right after I posted the
message - so typical - now that I have reached 40 I have convinced
myself that I forget things that I used to know readily.).
On the Olivellas, take a look at yours and measure them and then read
the Kozloff description of the two small Olivellas.  What do you think?
I don't "know" O. pycna either but then again I don't "know" most
shells, since the ones I have collected are the first I've ever seen and
I have no basis of comparison other than pictures and descriptions in a
limited number of books (thanks agin for te lead on the Kozloff book).
I wonder if other shell collectors face the same problem with their
self-collected shells?  If a person does not have access to an
established collection then they can't really know for sure.  Sometimes
I think that despite the most careful pains taken to ID from books
alone, obvious mistakes could easily be made since a 'mind's eye'
judgment might not reflect reality.  I have particular trouble with
limpets and I think if I could just actually see some already ID'd
specimens all my confusion or doubts would be quickly put to rest.

Nora
(confused but dry) in Calgary
Alberta

Peter Egerton wrote:

> Nora,
> I have all my little BC Olivellas as O. baetica, but
> don't know the O. pycna, but then I'm not a great
> authority on the subject.
> Peter Egerton
> Vancouver (I should walk to work to in my
> snorkling gear), BC
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Peter Egerton, Vancouver, Canada
> Collector of worldwide Mollusca
> http://www.intergate.bc.ca/personal/seashell/index.html
> -------------------------------------------------------