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Show 296 MR. E. A. SMITH ON THE [Apr. 1, F. arcuata, Sow., may also be forms of it. The distribution synonymy is given by Weinkauff (Conch. Mittelm. vol. ii. p. 394). The specimens collected by Mr. Melliss were named F. arcuata, Sow., by Jeffreys1, but in sculpture they more nearly resemble the typical form of F. gibberula. In F. arcuata the costae are very closely approximated to one another. Young specimens, in which the capuliform apex has not been absorbed, have the appearance of the genus Puncturella. PATELLA PLUMBEA, Lamarck. Patella plumbea, Reeve, Conch. Icon. pi. iii. figs. 5 a-b. Patella caerulea, Quoy & Gaimard, Voy. Astrolabe, Moll. vol. iii, p. 342, pi. 70. figs. 4-6. Patella cyanea, Lesson, Voy. Coquille, vol. ii. p. 417. Patella canescens, Reeve, op. cit. pi. 34. figs. 103 a-b. Hab. St. Helena (Q. Sf G., Lesson) ; Senegal (Lamarck). If, as I am inclined to believe, P. canescens be a variety of this species, it shows that it is a very variable form. A considerable number of very young shells were collected by Capt. Turton, which probably are the early stages of different varieties of this species. They are extremely variable in colour, but it is impossible to distinguish them on that account alone. WILLIAMIA GUSSONII (Costa). Ancylus gussonii, Costa, Cat. Test, due Sicil. pp. 120 & 125. Patella pellucida, Philippi, Moll. Sicil. vol. i. p. Ill, pi. 7. fig. Patella gussonii, id. 1. c. p. 255, vol. ii. p. 84. Patella radiata, Pease, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1860, p. 437. Hab. Some parts of the Mediterranean, Madeira, Canary Islands, Ascension Island. The specimens from St. Helena and Ascension Island are precisely similar, and agree exactly with the shells in Cuming's collection marked Patella radiata, Pease, and which, I presume, are the types described, and supposed to have come from the Sandwich Islands. Examples from the Canaries have the apex more excentric than the majority of St. Helena specimens, and they are less distinctly rayed. The radiating ribs mentioned by Pease are very indistinct. In his list of shells collected by Mr. Melliss at St. Helena (Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 1872, vol. ix. p. 264) Jeffreys has quoted this species under the name of Tectura virginea, Muller. The latter species, however, I believe is quite distinct. BULLA STRIATA, Bruguiere. Hab. Mediterranean, West Indies, Brazil, West Africa. With this species I unite B. media and B. adansonii, Philippi, respectively from the West Indies and West Africa. I do not think the slight differences pointed out by Philippi possess more than varietal value. I have seen specimens from both localities with the superior as well as the inferior stria?. 1 Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist, 1872, vol. ix. p. 264. |
