OCR Text |
Show 582 ON NEW SPECIES O F L A N D - S H E L L S . [Nov. 19, Note on BULIMUS FULMINANS. Specimens of a supposed new species of Bulimus from Mount Roraima, Brit. Guiana, having recently been presented by Miss Linter to the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, I was asked to give m y opinion upon it, and to describe it if new. Comparing it with B. fulminans (Nyst), B. blainvilleanus (Pfr.), and B. loveni (Pfr.), it seemed pretty evident that if these could be properly considered as three species, the Mount Roraima one must constitute a fourth. Upon careful comparison, however, of the different forms I have come to the conclusion that they are simply geographical forms or varieties of one species. Though differing in size and form, all agree in the essential characters peculiar to the species, namely the close, regular, longitudinal striation of the upper whorls, followed upon the body-whorl by a curious rough malleation having an oblique tendency opposite to that of the striae. The only noticeable variation is in the relative proportions of these characters; the regular striation in some specimens being confined to the upper whorls, and in others covering part of the body-whorl. W e have then:- BULIMUS FULMINANS (Nyst). Typical form. Spire conical, rather produced; outer lip considerably thickened ; longitudinal waved dark brown lines, rather conspicuous upon the lightish brown colour of the shell. The Museum specimens are from the Grota de Guacharos, near Caripe, Colombia. Var. blainvilleana (Bulimus blainvilleanus, Pfr.). Rather larger than type, of lighter substance, shorter spire, more inflated body-whorl, darker colour with waved or zigzag markings obscure. Hab. Taji, Prov. of Merida, Venezuela. Var. loveni (Bulimus loveni, Pfr.). Smaller than type, of very thin substance, lightish colour, with zigzag markings conspicuous. Hab. Venezuela. Var. linteree (Sowerby), Plate LVI. fig. 12. Smaller than type, about the size of var. loveni, than which it is more solid, with a more produced spire and narrower body-whorl. The zigzag markings are only faintly visible in some specimens. Hab. Mount Roraima, British Guiana. EXPLANATION OF PLATE LVI. Fig. 1. Helix (Geotrochus) hordcri, p. 577. 2. Achatina barriana, p. 579. 3. smithi, p. 579. 4. Bulimus salteri, p. 578. 5. (Mesembrinus?) bowkeri, p. 581. 6. Helix (Corasia) woodfordi, p. 578. 7. Bulimus (Buliminus ?) hanningtoni, p. 580. 8. ( ) gomezi, p. 580. 9. super striatus, p. 578. 10. Trochomorpha godeti, p. 578. 11. Achatina linteree, p. 580. 12. Bulimus fulminans, var. linteree, p. 582. 13. Leptopoma woodfordi, p. 581. 14. Cyclostoma hanningtoni, p. 581. |