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Show 296 MR. A. GARRETT ON THE TERRESTRIAL [Mar. 1, and Taviuni. It also inhabits the Sandwich and Paumotu Islands, and I found it very abundant and gregarious at the Gambier Islands. A small, solid, ovate species with the spiral lirae of P. hirsuta, but more numerous, smoother, more crowded, and the aperture is not so much contracted. The external varix is smaller, and the base of the shell is more rounded than in the latter species. Colour light brownish, sometimes corneous, usually with a faint pale zone beneath the suture, and the aperture is more or less tinged with brownish. The dentation is the same in both species. Length 3 to 5 millim. Genus CASSIDULA, Ferussac. 1. C A S S I D U L A INTUSCARINATA, Mousson. Auricula (Cassidula) intuscarinata, Mousson, Journ. de Conch. 1870, p. 132, pl. 7. fig. 9. Cassidula intuscarinata, Schmeltz, Cat. Mus. Godeff. v. p. 88 ; Pfeiffer, Mon. Pneum. (Auric.) iv. p. 353. Occurs in profusion on the mud in mangrove-swamps at Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. I have received the same species from New Caledonia labelled C. mvstellina. This species, like nearly all the shells inhabiting swamps, is very frequently stained and more or less eroded. When in good condition it is of a brown or brow nish-liver colour, sometimes olive-brown, with an obscure pale band on the subangulated shoulder. Rarely light fulvous-biown, with an indistinct light chestnut band between the shoulder and the sutural line. The base, aperture, and the peristome tawny flesh-colour, the latter with a stout external varix. The shape of the shell is subovate, with spiial incised lines, and the aperture is obauriform. The strongly labiated lip is deeply emarginated above. Upper parietal tooth small, nodiform, and the plait beneath is nearly transverse. Columellar fold slightly oblique. Length 14 to 20 millim. 2. CASSIDULA CRASSIUSCULA, Mousson. Cassidula crassiuscula, Mousson, Journ. de Conch. 1869, p. 343, pl. 15. fig. 1 ; Paetel, Cat. Conch, p. 114; Pease, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1871, p. 477 ; Schmeltz, Cat. Mus. Godeff. v. p. 88 ; Pfeiffer, Mon. Pneum. (Auric.) iv. p. 352. Auricula (Cassidula) crassiuscula, Mousson, Journ. de Conch. 1871, p. 191. Cassidula nucleus, Gassies (Martyn?), Faune Nouv. Caled. p. 71, pl. 3. fig. 9. Like the preceding species, it occurs in profusion on the mud in mangrove-swamps, but is more generally diffused throughout the group. It also inhabits Tonga and the Samoa Islands. Mr. Layard, of New Caledonia, sent me specimens collected in that island, labelled "Melampus nucleus, Martyn." It has the same shape and dentation as C. intuscarinalus, but is much more variable in colour, and in size ranges from 10 to 16 |
