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Show 288 MR. A. GARRETT ON THE TERRESTRIAL [Mar. 1, that part of the shell a granulated appearance. The transverse lines are frequently evanescent on the middle of the body-whorl. There are from two to three folds on the parietal region, the upper one small and granuliform. There may be observed one to three lamelliform plications in the palate, and sometimes several raised white parallel striae. Length 9-10 millim. M. granifer, Mousson, an East-Indian species, is very closely allied to, if not identical with, M. striatus. 9. MELAMPUS ADAMSIANUS, Pfeiffer. Melampus adamsianus, Pfeiffer, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1854, p. 121 ; Syn. Auric, no. 12; Novit. Conch, i. p. 18, pl. 5. figs. 17-19; Mon. Auric, i. p. 24 ; Gassies, Faun. Nouv. Caled. p. 57, pl. 7. fig. 2; Hutton, Cat. Moll. New Zeal. p. 576 ("ex Pfeiffer ") Tralia adamsiana (Pira), H. & A. Adams, Gen. Moll. ii. p. 244. Melampus variabilis, Gassies, Faun. Nouv. Caled. p. 65, pl. 6. fig. 8 ; Pfeiffer, Mon. Pneum. (Auric.) iv. p. 315. Melampus cinereus, Gassies, Journ. de Conch. 1867, p. 62; Pfeiffer, Mon. Pneum. (Auric.) iv. p. 314. Melampus avenaceus, Mousson, Journ. de Conch. 1870, p. 134; 1871, var. vavaoensis, p. 21. Melampus angustus, " Mousson," Schmeltz, Cat. Mus. Godeff. iv. p. 68; Paetel, Cat. Conch, p. 114 (juvenile). A small and very variable species, 7 to 10 millim. long, and of various colours-light or dark chestnut, luteous, fulvous, cinereous, frequently ornamented with bands and lines of a chestnut colour on a pale ground or pale bands on a dark ground. The shape varies from oblong-ovate to subcylindrical; surface smooth, shining; base with oblique incised striae. Spire short or elongate, acute, obscurely radiately plaited or grooved. Parietal region with from one to four plications, the posterior two when present granuliform. Columellar fold more or less continuous with the peristome. The variety vavaoensis is common in the Viti group, associated with the type, into which it gradually intergrades. Specimens occur in great profusion just above high-water mark in sheltered places. Dr. Graffe found it in the Tonga group and it is abundant in New Caledonia, whence I have received numerous examples labelled M. adamsianus, M. cinereus, and M. variabilis. The New-Caledonian shells exhibit the same variation as the Viti shells, some of which have the spire so much elongated that they might easily be mistaken for a distinct species; but having carefully studied several thousand specimens collected in the latter group, I find the character individual only. The number of plications in the aperture cannot, except in certain species, be relied on as a specific character. It was first described from specimens in the Cumingian Museum, and the habitat " New Zealand " is probably erroneous. Mr. Hutton, in his Catalogue of New-Zealand Mollusca, merely repeats Pfeiffer's description. Von Martens does not include it in his list of New-Zealand shells. |