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Show 348 MR. E. A. SMITH ON SHELLS [Apr. 20, 7. AMPULLARIA OVATA, Olivier. Ampullaria ovata, Olivier, Philippi in Kiister's Con. Cab. pl. 14. f. 5-6 ; Reeve, Con. Icon. f. 64. A. kordofana, Parreyss, Philippi, /. c. pl. 13. f. 1. The more globose form of this species (kordofana) is the one received from Mr. Hore at Tanganyika. The epidermis of all the specimens is of a peculiarly dark olive tint. 8. MELANIA (MELANELLA) NASSA, Woodward, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1859, p. 349, pl. 47. f. 4; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 216 ; Brot. Conchy 1. Cab. pl. 6. f. 7. Among several specimens sent by Mr. Hore, one is especially worth referring to. It is exceptionally elongated, and, although undoubtedly belonging to this species, at first sight looks distinct. Its dimensions are-length 14 millims., diam. 6| ; aperture only 6 long, 3h wide. Another specimen is 20 millims. long, 10 broad, and its aperture has a length of 11 millims. and a width of 6|. TIPHOBIA*, nov. gen. Shell subturbinate; spire depressed; whorls flattened above, angulated and spinose ; axis and aperture prolonged into a channelled beak ; epidermis none. Operculum ? The character of the prolonged axis is very similar to that obtaining in several species of the genus lo. The great difference of form and the absence of an epidermis are, I think, sufficient distinctions to warrant a generic separation. Not knowing the animal or its operculum, it is impossible to say to what family it belongs ; but it may temporarily be classed with the Melaniidae. 9. TIPHOBIA HOREI. (Plate XXXI. figs. 6-6 b.) Shell somewhat turbinate, with a short turreted spire, prolonged inferiorly into a narrow rostrum, thinnish, semitransparent. Whorls 0, flattened above, rectangular, and keeled in the middle, with rather long, tapering, hollow compressed spines arising from the keel and directed slightly upward. Sculpture consisting of fine close spiral or transverse lirulse crossed by obliquely flexuous lines of growth, which, towards the aperture, are particularly strongly marked, forming fine plications. Aperture irregularly pyriform, lined with a bluish-white and glossy enamel, together with the basal beak occupying about 44} of the entire length of the shell. Columella nearly straight, only faintly arcuate in the middle, and a trifle bent to the left beneath, covered with a smooth dirty-white callosity extending over the whorl, and joining the lip at its upper extremity; the latter is shallowly sinuated above and below the angle, and arcuately prominent about and beneath the middle. Rostrum a little oblique and scarcely recurved, shallowly grooved. The colour may be described as dirty or greyish transparent white feebly tinted with 1 From riipos, a pond, and /3iow, to live. |