OCR Text |
Show 186/.] MR. G. F. ANGAS ON AUSTRALIAN MOLLUSCA. 197 aware, to a few spots on the south-east coast. It inhabits deep water. Length 2\ inches. 64. CASSIS PYRUM. Cassispyrum, Lam. Anim. sans Vert. x. p. 33. Cassis zcylanica, Lam.; Reeve, Conch. Icon. Cassis, pl. 11. f. 29 a, b, c. This species (to which the C. paucirugis of Menke approximates so closely as to render it difficult to separate them) is an inhabitant of rather deep water, like most of the genus, and occurs sparingly iu Port Jackson, Port Stephen, and Botany Bay. It is also to be found in Tasmania, and on the west coast of New Zealand, where the examples are beautifully painted with bands of brown wavy spots. Length 2j inches. Fam. DOLIID^E. 65. DOLIUM VARIEGATUM. Dolium variegatum, Lam. Anim. sans Vert. x. p. 133. D. kieneri, Phil.; Reeve, Conch. Icon. Dolium, pl. 5. f. 7 a. This fine large Dolium is the only species of this somewhat restricted genus which is to be found as far south as Botany Bay and Port Jackson. It is a thin, globose, inflated shell, having the transverse ribs more or less spotted with brown. In Botany Bay, upon the " Seven-mile beach," very large specimens, mostly broken, are washed ashore after easterly gales. Its habitat extends all round North Australia, and westward as far south as King George's Sound. Length 7 inches. Fam. NATICID.*:. 66. NATICA MAROCHIENSIS. Natica marochiensis, Lam. Anim. sans Vert. viii. p. 642 ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. Natica, pl. 13. f. 52. This species, which varies considerably in the pattern of its colouring, though nearly constant in form, seems to be of almost worldwide distribution. The Port Jackson specimens are from Middle Harbour. In the Sandwich Islands, N e w Caledonia, the Mauritius, and Madagascar, as w*ell as along the north-east coast of Australia, it occurs pretty generally. North Africa and the West Indies are cited by old authors as its habitat. Length of the largest Port Jackson specimen 1 inch. 67. NATICA (LUNATIA) PLUMBEA. Natica plumbea, Lam. Anim. sans Vert. viii. p. 632. N. sordida, Swains.; Reeve, Conch. Icon. Natica, pl. 9. f. 34a,b. A fine species, of a turbinated form and dark leaden-grey colour, having the columella tinged with red. It occurs on the sands at Middle Harbour and in Botany and Broken Bays, at low water, burying itself just beneath the surface. Length l^inch. |