OCR Text |
Show 324 DR. J. C. COX ON AUSTRALIAN SHELLS. [Apr. 18» perforationem obtegente, intus basi usque ad apicem lira albida spiraliter duclante. Diam. 1*05, long. 2*60 une. Hab. Treasury Island, Solomon Islands (Coll. Cox). As a rule this species varies very little; of the several examples which I possess, however, some are shorter or wider than the typical specimens, while others are much lighter in colour and not so decidedly rosy at the apex. VOLUTA KINGI, sp. nov. (Plate XXXIV. fig. 4.) V. testa oblongo-ovata, crassa, ponderosa; spira brevi, acuminata, apice vix papillari; anfractibus leevibus, superne declivibus, deinde tumido-angulatis; columella quadriplicata; apertura longiuscula; labro simplici, fusco-flavida aut fulvo, polito ; columella et apertura? fauce intense aurantio tincta. Diam. 1*40, long. 3 une. Hab. King's Island, Bass's Straits. Several fine specimens of this new species have lately been obtained ; it has the form of the shorter specimens of Voluta angasi, but it is a more ponderous shell, and at once distinguished by its polished exterior and dark orange-coloured interior. VOLUTA CONIFORMIS, sp. nov. (Plate XXXIV. fig. 5.) V. testa oblong o-pyrifor mi vel coniformi, solida; spira brevissima, obtusa; anfractibus longitudinaliter regulariter fortiter striatis, transverse striatis cum lineis fortiter undulatis ; columella quadriplicata, plicis transversis et parvis; apertura subangustala, prope spiram longiuscula, ascendente; intus violaceo-brunnea; labro simplici; fulvescenti-brunnea, obscure trifasciata, fasciis valde trigono-reticulatis, et maculis irregulariter ornata. Diam. 1*40, long. 2*80 une. Hab. Nichol Bay, N.W. Australia. So far only a single specimen of this fine species has been obtained. Its solid cone-like form, obtuse and rounded spire, and in particular its peculiar sculpturing by regular longitudinal striee, decussated at right angles by coarser waved striae, will at once distinguish it from any other described species. In m y opinion this species will create a well-marked subgenus of Voluta. VOLUTA PUNCTATA, Reeve. (Plate XXXIV. fig. 6.) Hitherto this rare shell has been very indifferently represented in the various works illustrating conchology. As I have lately added to m y collection many fine specimens of this species, I send you one to figure. The regular rows of square dark orange spots with which this species is represented in Reeve's 'Cone. Icon.' (Dec. 1849) from a broken and worn specimen in the British Museum are not to be depended upon, being more frequently absent than otherwise; they are, as a rule, scattered irregularly over the surface of the shell. This species has rather a wide range on the east coast of Australia, my specimens having been collected from various localities between |