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Show 1^91.] MOTHER-OF-PEARL OYSTERS. 385 Avicula (Meleagrina) badia, Dunker, 1852, p. 79; 1872, p. 12, tab. 2. fig. 7 ; no loc. Savigny, 1811, pi. 11. figs. 8 & 9. As Schumacher's figure, and the one by Chemnitz to which he refers, are evidently typical Eastern Lingah shells (from convexity, posterior " auricle" of hinge-line, sharp separation of the inner surface of the rostrum from the general surface of the nacre by a well-defined ridge, and distinct anterior and lateral teeth in Schumacher's figure), the name vulgaris must replace the more familiar fucata (Gould) for this species. This shell is extremely variable, and young examples have been described as distinct species over and over again, while, until comparatively recently, the grown shell has been confused by many writers with M. margaritifera. It is highly probable that some of the described forms which I am still treating as separate species will, on better acquaintance, prove to be merely geographical races of M. vulgaris Schumacher. Geographical Distribution and Variation :- Ceylon and Southern India. The Ceylon Pearl-Oyster is the best known local form of this species. It frequents the Gulf of Manaar, Palk Straits, and the Southern coasts of India. It differs from most other local races in its lighter colour, and the whitish or pink ground-colour of the interior of the lip. Maldive Islands. Mr. J. Stanley Gardiner, on his recent visit to the Maldives, found this species fairly plentiful there, but not in extensive beds. Unlike M. margaritifera, this shell is not fished by the natives of the Maldives. Mr. Gardiner's specimens closely resembled those from Ceylon, and were at once referred by Captain Donnan to the same species. Persian Gulf. The Lingah shell of the Persian Gulf belongs to this species. It is distinguishable from the Ceylon form by its darker colour, the exterior being usually more purple and the radial markings almost black. The interior of the lip is dark red. The shell attains somewhat larger dimensions than in Ceylon waters. It is shipped in quantities to the London markets, but is of small and fluctuating value, owing to large supply and limited demand. Red Sea. Throughout the Red Sea this shell is common, but is fished almost exclusively for pearls. There are a number of specimens from the Red Sea in the British Museum, but with one exception (Aden, Major Yerbury) they are very young. The Aden specimen is very like a Ceylon shell. [Mediterranean. Since the opening of the Suez Canal this species has wandered into the Mediterranean. There are typical examples from Alexandria (W. B. Tegetmeier) and Malta (Col. Feildeu) in the British Museum. Au account of this interesting immigration has been published by Vassel, 1896.] East Africa. Specimens from Mauritius (B.M.; Mus. Cuming), S. Africa (B.M.; J. H . Ponsonby Coll.), Bazaruto Isl. (do.), and |
