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Show 178 MR. A. GARRETT ON THE TERRESTRIAL [Feb. 15, luteous-corneous, the periphery margined above and beneath with a reddish-chestnut line, the upper one following the whorls of the spire ; suture with a depressed, narrow marginal line; whorls 6|, slightly convex, rather rapidly increasing, last one not descending in front, acute and compressedly carinated, keel whitish ; base more polished than above, convex ; aperture very oblique, depressed, sub-rhomboid- lunate ; peristome thin, straight above, margins converging, basal portion slightly thickened and gently arched. Major diam. 20, height 7 millim. I received several hundred examples of this very distinct species from a missionary who collected them in Kantavu Island. He gave no information in regard to its station. Specimens sent to the Godeffroy Museum in Hamburg were referred to T. swainsonii, a Society-Island species; and examples sent to an English correspondent were confounded with T. metcalfei, Pfeiffer, a Philippine species. It is probably the Helix (Videna) planorbis, in " Dr. James C. Cox's Exchange List," which he accredits to Kantavu. The T. planorbis of Lesson was collected by that naturalist in N e w Guinea, and differs from our shell in being smaller, mottled with olivaceous, and in having only 5 whorls. A careful comparison with the description of T. metcalfei has convinced me that it cannot be the same as the Kantavu shell. T. swainsonii is smaller, thicker, rougher, much more variable, and the positions of the lineations are different. Its large size, depressed form, fragile texture, luteous horn-colour with the chestnut-brown marginal lines, and large umbilicus will readily separate it from any other Vitian species. Genus PATULA, Held. 1. PATULA INERMIS. Patula inermis, Mousson, Journ. de Conch. 1870, p. 118, pl. 7- Helix inermis, Pfeiffer, Mon. Hel. vii. p. 167 ; (Patula) Paetel, Cat. Conch, p. 91. Collected by Dr. Griiffe on Vanua Balavo. Beneath decaying vegetation. A small, widely umbilicated, depressed orbicular, rufous horn-coloured species, with fine, oblique, costulate striae and 4 slightly convex whorls. Diameter a trifle more than 2 millim. 2. PATULA ADPOSITA. Patula adposita, Mousson, Journ. de Conch. 18/0, p. 119, pl. fig. 8. Helix adposita, Pfeiffer, Mon. Hel. vii. p. 87 ; (Patula) Paetel, Cat. Conch, p. 87. Discovered by Dr. Graffe on Oueata Island. A little larger and paler than the preceding species, and the umbilicus is smaller, and the acute plicate striae are not so crowded. |
