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Show 18^5.] FROM THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. 601 41. MELANIA FASTIGIELLA, Reeve. (Plate XXXVII. fig. 1.) Hab. "Imbedded in a dark calcareous loam exposed in the bank of a large stream at Sulagina on the north coast of San Christoval." The specimens found by Mr. Guppy are not quite so slender as the type figured by Reeve, but agree with it exactly in all other respects. An important feature not referred to. by Reeve is the presence of fine transverse lirae upon the body-whorl below the spined keel. The fine costae and spiral striae on the uppermost volutions are very constant in all specimens ; and therefore I think it most probable that Brot's shell (Monogr. Melania, in Conch.-Cab. pi. 38. f. 2a) does not belong to this species. Mr. Guppy was unable to discover any living specimens; those which were obtained being, however, well preserved and even retaining a certain amount of the epidermis, which is of a "yellowish brown " colour as described by Reeve, and not of the sombre tint depicted in his figure. 42. MELANIA, sp. (Plate XXXVII. fig. 2.) Hab. Found "imbedded in a dark calcareous loam exposed in the bank of a large stream at Sulagina on the north coast of San Christoval" (Guppy). Only one dead specimen was obtained of this species. It is ovately fusiform, consists of about 8 or 9 whorls, is longitudinally plicate, the folds being produced into short spines just beneath a depression a little below the suture. The plicae are crossed by about three spirally striated grooves, and the body-whorl is strongly transversely ridged and grooved below the middle ; the furrows also, as in the upper whorl, being finely striated in the same direction. Length 26 millim., width 9|. 43. MELANIA VERRUCOSA, Hinds. Hab. The same as Mel. fastigiella. The three shells obtained I am unable to separate from this species, which was described originally from specimens from New Ireland, a little to the north of the Solomon group. M. damonis of Brot appears to be very closely allied to this species, if not the same. As stated by the latter author, some specimens are more slender than others, as shown by the following measurements of two specimens with an equal number of whorls : length 20 millim., diameter 7 3 ; length 22 millim., diameter 6|. 44. MELANIA SUBGRADATA. (Plate XXXVII. figs. 3, 3 a.) Shell elongate, turreted, rather solid, covered with an (olive?) epidermis, and marked with fine longitudinal oblique red lines which extend from suture to suture. Whorls probably about 10, flat or even a little concave at the sides, shouldered above, usually with a spiral shallow groove and a few striae near the shoulder, and marked with fine incremental striae. Suture deep, slightly oblique. Last whorl long, finely transversely striated, most distinctly at the base. |