| OCR Text |
Show 1870.] DR. W. BAIRD ON PROTOMA KNOCKERI. 59 3. Description of a new Genus and Species of Shells from Whydah, on the W e s t Coast of Africa, with some Remarks on the Genus Proto of Defrance. By W . B A I R D, M.D., F.R.S., &c. The British Museum has just received, through the kindness of Mrs. Knocker, of Exmouth, a series of shells collected by her late husband, Captain H. H . Knocker, R.N., C.M.Z.S., at Whydah and the Bight of Benin on the west coast of Africa. Amongst these is a species belonging to the family Turritellidae, which I at first considered might be referred to the genus Proto of Defrance. Upon more mature examination, however, of that genus as established by the French author mentioned above, I now believe this mollusk to be distinct and fairly entitled to be described as a new genus. I have therefore named it Protoma, from its resemblance to one of the species referred to that genus and from the slit in the under lip*. It may be thus defined :- PROTOMA, nov. gen. Testa turrita. Apertura ovalis, labro inferiore acute inciso. Operculum circulare, corneum, multispirale. Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3. Fig. 1. Protoma knockeri, Baird. dorsal aspect. 3. Operculum. * Proto and rop), a slit. |
