OCR Text |
Show 1884.] 'LIGHTNING'AND'PORCUPINE'EXPEDITIONS. 363 49. ODOSTOMIA VENTRICOSA, Forbes. Parthenia ventricosa, Forb. Rep. Mg. Inv. (1843), p. 188. O. acicula, var. ventricosa, B. C. iv. p. 171 ; v. p. 213, pi. lxxvi. f. 7. 'Lightning' Exp. St. 2, 5. ' Porcupine ' Exp. 1869: 25. 1870 : Atl. 9, 17a, 26-28a; Med. Benzert Road, Rasel Amoush, Adventure Bank. Distribution. Lofoten I. to the Hydra Channel and Crete, Adriatic, off C. Verd I. ('Talisman' Exp.), Madeira (Watson) !; 10-1192 fms. Fossil. Pliocene : Italy. Post-tertiary : Biot and Leghorn. Although it is difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish this from O. acicula, except as a variety, I will defer to the opinion of my friend Professor G. O. Sars, and consider them separate species. This kind of distinction is not very material in a scientific point of view, where there is any valid or peculiar character. The present species has a more delicate texture, the whorls are more swollen, the suture is consequently deeper, and the shell becomes more attenuated towards the apex. Nevertheless, there are intermediate gradations, as is the case with other allied forms. Both species have several synonyms. In the Annals and Magazine of Natural History for 1848 I described the present species under the name of Eulimella gracilis ; but Forbes did not recognize it as his Parthenia ventricosa. He described his shell as " subumbilicate," a character which does not belong to mine. The animal is described in the Supplement to ' British Conchology.' PYRAMIDELLA NITIDULA, A. Adams. (Plate XXVII. fig. 8.) Surnola (afterwards changed to Obeliscus) nitidula, A. Adams in Ann & Mag. N. H. 1860, p. 335. 'Porcupine' Exp. 1870: Atl. St. 3a (var. exilis), 9, 16, 17, 28- 30; Med. 45, 55 (var. exilis), Adventure Bank. Distribution. Bay of Biscay ('Travailleur' Exp. 1881 and 1882), European and African coasts of the Mediterranean, off the Cape de Verd I. ('Talisman' Exp.), St. Thomas, D. W . I. and Fayal ('Challenger' Exp.), Japan and Corea (A. Adams and St. John); 40-487| fms. Fossil. Pliocene : Reggio (Seguenza). Synonyms. Pyramidella minuscula and P. mediterranea of Monterosato, Obeliscus sufarcinatus and O. tinctus of Watson. Perhaps the variety, which I have named exilis, may be a distinct species. It is much smaller, narrower, and spindle-shaped; but the specimens are too young or immature and imperfect for complete description. t . The shell being deeply umbilicated may constitute the type of a section which I would name Tiberia, in honour of that excellent naturalist Dr. Nicola Tiberi of Portici near Naples. I have carefully compared my ' Porcupine' and Mediterranean specimens with those from Japan and Corea, which I received from |