OCR Text |
Show 1871.] MR. J. BRAZIER ON NEW AUSTRALIAN LAND-SHELLS. 639 one) was placed in its cage, it seized it across the body as a Jack would a Roach, pressing its fangs deeper and deeper into the animal, and never relaxing its hold, even when the rat died. It then, with extreme caution, without withdrawing its hold, worked the head towards its mouth, and gradually swallowed the prey in short "gulps" or bolts. Five or six persons watched the process in perfect silence, which did not appear to incommode or annoy the snake. 4. Descriptions of eight new Australian Land-Shells. By J O H N BRAZIER, C.MZ.S. [Received October 11, 1871]. I. HELIX (HADRA) DARWINI. Shell umbilicated, depressedly globose, very thin, finely granulated and radiately striated ; spire moderately elevated, obtuse ; whorls 5, slowly increasing, convex, last roundly convex, sliglitly descending in front, dirty yellow; base convex, sculptured the same as the upper surface; umbilicus rather small, deep; aperture diagonal, ovately lunate ; peristome very little reflected, white ; margins approximating and joined by a thin callus, columellar margin reflected and half covering the umbilicus. Diam. maj. 7, min. 5|, alt. 4 lines. Hab. North coast of Australia (coll. Brazier). I received two specimens of this species from a friend who collected them in the far north of Australia; but the precise locality was not sent with them. It is allied to Helix forsteriana, Pfr., from North-east Australia. 2. HELIX (HADRA) STEPHENSONIANA. Shell umbilicated, turbinately globose, somewhat pellucid, of a fine straw-colour, faintly and obliquely striated, rather puckered at the suture ; spire subconoid ; whorls 5^, moderately convex, last convex and inflated, deflected in front; base convex; aperture oblique, lunately circular; peristome light pink, straight; margins approximating, upper margin rather thickened and expanded, columellar margin arcuate and reflexed, covering half the umbilicus, which is deep and moderately large. Diam. maj. 9, min. 7\, alt. 6 lines. Hab. Port Denison, Queensland, North-east coast of Australia (coll. Brazier). Rare. This species is of a fine straw-yellow colour on the last whorl, the other whorls being nearly white; the lip is of a light pink colour. I only know of one specimen, which is in m y own cabinet. 3. HELIX (HADRA) BENNETTI. Shell umbilicated, depressedly globose, very thin, finely rugosely striated and minutely granulated, dark-yellowish horny ; spire rather PROC. ZOOL. SOC.-187L No. XLI. |