§ II. DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES.

1. MUREX GROOTI, spec. nov. Pl. VI. figs. 1 a,

16.

Shell thick, subfusiform, transversely ridged. Whorls convex, almost flat near the suture, six-varicose, crowned with an angular tubercle on each varix, and having a tubercle or longitudinal fold between some of the varices, especially on the upper whorls. Varices rounded, solid, those of each whorl alternating with those of the next, produced down the caudal prolongation almost parallel to one another, two of them thus meeting the oblique canal at acute angles. Transverse ridges equidistant, sharp, alternately larger and smaller, and having a number of raised lines between them, both ridges and lines becoming more evident on the varices. Aperture obovate, somewhat oblique, nearly flat above; outer lip dentate at the margin; inner lip distinct; canal short, oblique, contracted above, and rapidly widening downwards.

The tubercles on the varices are so worn as to be distinguishable only on the last two or three; they give a peculiarly angular appearance to the whole shell, which is also remarkable for its solidity and the downward parallel prolongation of the varices.

M. de Groot's collection contains but one specimen of this species, which appears to resemble a species from Bordeaux represented in the Society's collection by three specimens presented by Sir C. Lyell, and marked "Murex, nov. spec." by M. Deshayes. These Bordeaux shells are lighter and less solid than the Javan specimen, and their varices, which are less thick, are not prolonged downwards as in this species, but gradually die away. The two species are otherwise very similar, especially in the general form, the obliquity of the aperture and the canal, the ornamentation, and the size. There is also a general resemblance between this fossil and Murex despectus, Michelotti, an Italian species, the varices in both having the same kind of prolongation downwards; but they are much more numerous in the latter species, which also differs in its details from M. Grooti. Dimensions.-Length 11 inch; breadth 11 inch; length of aperture inch, breadth inch; length of canal

inch.

Matrix. This shell is filled with a light-grey marl; but there are spots of dark-green marl on its surface.

2. MUREX? PARADOXICUS, spec. nov. Pl. VI. figs. 2 a, 26.

Shell elongately ovate, umbilicate, transversely ridged. Whorls convex, depressed above, indistinctly varicose, crowned with a series of short, acute, ascending spines, which spring from the numerous indistinct varices. The body-whorl has two rows of spines, those of the lower row being much the smaller; they form the lower limit of the varices, and become ultimately hidden through the growth of the shell. Transverse ridges very pronounced, alternately larger and smaller, of very regular width, and curving towards the nearest spine where they cross the varices. Upper whorls more distinctly varicose and less spiny. Suture distinct, flexuous in consequence of its being just above the lower row of spines. Aperture narrowly and

obliquely oval; inner lip distinct; canal very short, oblique, very wide, and abruptly truncated.

This shell is clearly related to M. minax, Lam., a well-known Paris-Basin species; but the alliance is not remarkably close. It would perhaps be advisable to collect such species as the one under consideration, with M. minax, &c., into a distinct genus or subgenus. They appear to be really spiniferous whelks.

Dimensions (largest specimen).-Length 15 inch, breadth 1 inch; length of aperture inch, breadth inch; length of canal 5 inch.

Matrix.-Greyish sand.

3. MUREX? sp.

One badly preserved and mutilated specimen of a shell apparently similar in form to Pyrula rusticula, Bast., but probably a Murex, is contained in M. de Groot's collection. It differs from the above-mentioned Pyrula in having several rows of tubercles, on the last whorl, collected into indistinct varices; it appears to have had a slightly oblique canal, which is broken off just below the aperture. The outer lip is very defective, and the surface of the shell is so corroded and bored into that it is impossible to make out any of its characters. The thinner portions of the shell are translucent, and the interior is somewhat nacreous; these circumstances, together with the freshlooking appearance of the corroded surface, and the almost total absence of any matrix, induced me to suspect that it was not a fossil. It is very unlikely, however, that M. de Groot would have made such a mistake; and, moreover, Mount Séla is a considerable distance from the sea. Possibly this may be the shell referred to by M. Junghuhn as Murex minax, to which it bears some degree of resemblance.

Matrix. The small portions of matrix found in the fragment of the canal, and in the cavities made by boring-shells, appear to consist of a dark-grey mud.

4. PYRULA COCHLIDIUM, Linn. Pl. VI. fig. 4.

Shell fusiformly pear-shaped, with an elevated spire, and an excavated, slightly sinuous suture. Whorls angular, longitudinally ribbed, transversely lirate, flat above, the flat portion being marked by three parallel raised ridges; ribs (9) broad, flatly convex, dying away towards the base, and each crowned at the angle with a strong, compressed, slightly ascending tubercle. Transverse ridges most evident near the base, where they are alternately larger and smaller, and somewhat sinuous; nearer the angle the alternate smaller ridges are wanting, and the others are broader, less prominent, and scarcely sinuous. Aperture narrowly spathulate; outer lip dentate at the margin, and marked interiorly by a number of parallel ridges; inner lip indistinct.

This species, well known in the recent state as an inhabitant of Torres Straits, is represented in the Javan collection by a single specimen, deficient in the uppermost whorls, but agreeing with recent specimens in every particular, except that the latter do not exhibit

ridges on the interior of the outer lip. This may be a variation; but it may also be due to the fact of the nacreous inner layer not being preserved in the fossil. At any rate, as the Javan specimen agrees in every other respect remarkably well with recent examples, this difference does not appear to be of specific value.

Dimensions (imperfect specimen).-Length 11 inch, breadth 14 inch; length of aperture 11 inch, greatest breadth1⁄2 inch. Matrix.-The same as that of Murex Grooti.

Although a well-known species, I have given a complete description of it because it has never before been described as a fossil, and the diagnoses given of recent Shells are rarely of much value to the paleontologist, who is obliged to determine species by means of more lasting but less evident characters than those commonly appealed to by the conchologist.

5. Pyrula JaVANIS, spec. nov. Pl. VI. figs. 3 a, 3b.

Shell thick, fusiformly pear-shaped, with a slightly elevated spire. Whorls convex, longitudinally ribbed, transversely ridged, nearly flat above, the flat upper portion being marked by three rather distant ridges; ribs thick, broad, convex, dying away towards the base; suture distinct, slightly sinuous, on an elevated rim or band which is separated from the rest of the whorl by a deep groove. Aperture narrowly spathulate; outer lip marked interiorly by about twelve distinct ridges; inner lip indistinct.

This fossil is allied to Pyrula lactea, Reeve, a species now inhabiting the coasts of the Philippine Islands; the latter, however, has the whorls crowned with indistinct tubercles (the bases of which extend downwards), rather than having distinct ribs; and these tubercles or ribs are nearly twice as numerous as in Pyrula Javanis. There are also other differences of detail, especially as regards the character of the suture, which is rather peculiar in this fossil; but the general resemblance is very great.

Pyrula Javanis is also allied to P. cochlidium, but the resemblance between them is not sufficiently close to render probable the chance of their being mistaken for one another.

Dimensions.-Length 13 inch, breadth 1 inch; length of aperture 1 inch, greatest breadth inch.

Matrix.-Greenish sandy marl.

6. PURPURA UMBILICATA, spec. nov. Pl. VI. figs. 5 a, 5 b.

Shell ovate, thick, largely umbilicate, transversely striated, with a conical, rather long, acuminate spire, equalling or exceeding in length the rest of the shell; striæ with a binary arrangement, very numerous, deeply impressed. Whorls convex, declining next the suture, then subangular, and crowned with one row of short, acute, slightly recurved spines. Umbilicus expanded, with a thick, angular, slightly ascending marginal rim; aperture obovate-oblong; inner lip thick; canal curved outwards and backwards.

The nearest ally to this species is the recent Purpura carinifera, Lam.; but the former is easily distinguished from that and all other

species of the genus by its extremely large umbilicus, single row of spines, closely set and biserially arranged impressed striæ, and absence of keels and rows of granules.

In some parts of the shell, in certain specimens, the interspaces have more the appearance of raised lines, and consequently the impressed striæ appear to be the interspaces; but usually the description given above is most applicable.

Dimensions. Figured specimen: length 1 inch, breadth 1⁄2inch; length of aperture inch, breadth inch.

Matrix. Some of the specimens have the same matrix as Murex Grooti, the others the same as Murex? paradoxicus.

7. OLIVA UTRICULUS (juv. ?), Gm. Pl. VII. fig. 4.

Shell fusiformly ovate, broad, thick, with two well-defined, broad, spiral, coloured bands at the base, and with an acuminate spire. Columella very callous, the callosity extending upwards so as to cover the greater portion of the spire, and becoming much less thick towards the base, being indistinct where the columellar plaits commence that portion of the columella appearing to be somewhat worn; columellar plaits 7 or 8 in number, separated by grooves, the lowest of which is by far the deepest and the most distinct, the others and the plaits becoming gradually fainter upwards. Aperture not very wide, gaping below; inner lip well defined, the edge of the callosity being very distinct, and, where it dies away towards the base, the area of the columellar plaits being marked off from the rest of the shell by its margin forming a more or less elevated ridge.

There are several specimens of this species in the collection, but they are all of small size, and none of them are so broad as, or have the extremely callous appearance of, adult specimens; so that it is most likely they all belonged to young individuals. There can be scarcely a doubt as to their identity with this species.

Dimensions.-Figured specimen (rather a small one): length 1 inch, breadth1⁄2inch; length of aperture & inch, breadth inch.

Matrix. A greyish or reddish sand in some specimens, and a greyish marl in others.

8. CONUS STRIATELLUS, spec. nov. Pl. VII. figs. 3 a, 3b.

Shell conical, somewhat elongated at the base, and flatly convex above, with a very short mucronate spire. Whorls of a brown colour (varying in depth in different specimens and in different parts of the same specimen), scarcely overlapping, flat and slightly grooved next the suture, then conoidly convex, becoming somewhat drawn-out towards the base, and ornamented laterally with a number of blackish slightly raised stripes. Suture impressed. Aperture narrow, slightly dilated at the base. Columella slightly twisted and grooved at the base.

On the upper third of the sides of the whorls the coloured stripes are not more than half as far apart as on the middle third; and on the lower third they are accompanied, first alternately and then entirely, by slightly sinuous shallow grooves, like sutures, just above

them. Between the coloured stripes in the central part of the shell there are indications of a row of coloured dots, or of another stripe; and this ornament is rendered more complex by the presence of subordinate raised bands (probably the remains of thin light-coloured stripes), to the number of two or three, between each coloured band, and of very fine, impressed hair-lines not quite coinciding in direction with the coloured stripes. All these bands are crossed more or less at right angles by the lines of growth.

This species is closely related to Conus fuscocingulatus, Bronn, differing from it, somewhat, in the characters of the coloured rings, and essentially in those of the suture and the upper portion of the shell.

Of the specimens of Conus sent by M. de Groot, there are two (one a very imperfect specimen, three times as large as any of the others, and one about the same size as the remainder) which may belong to a distinct but related species. This cannot be decided properly without more perfect specimens; and as it is better to omit a species than to make one unnecessarily, I prefer leaving the matter in abeyance for the present, although the absence of the mucronate spire, and the much narrower aperture, in the two specimens referred to, render it very probable that they are really distinct.

Dimensions.-Length 1 inch, breadth 3 inch; length of aperture inch, breadth inch. The dimensions of the two specimens which I suppose to belong to a distinct species are as follows:large specimen, length 24 inches, breadth 12 inch; small specimen: length inch, breadth 1 inch; length of aperture 1 inch, breadth inch.

Matrix.-Greyish marly sand in the specimens referred to this species. The large specimen alluded to above is filled with a greenishgrey sandstone containing large flakes of a black substance resembling charred wood.

9. NATICA DUNCANI, spec. nov. Pl. VI. fig. 6.

Shell thick, ovate, rather narrowly umbilicate, with a produced spire. Whorls almost flat and obtusely grooved next the suture, then abruptly and somewhat convexly declining. Aperture ovate, almost flat at the base. Columella angular, thick, especially near the apex of the aperture, flat in front, and with a rather broad columnar callosity entering the umbilicus. Lines of growth very distinct. Operculum broadly half-heart-shaped, thick, especially near the columellar margin, broad at the base; convex margin reflexed outwardly, with a narrow groove on the outer side close to the edge, and a deeper parallel groove at a distance of inch inside it.

The two specimens which I refer to this species differ from Natica maculosa, Lam., to which they bear some resemblance, in having the whorls flatter near the suture, in being more truncate at the base of the mouth, and in the columella and the whole shell being much thicker. The thickness of the upper portion of the columella and the truncated base of the mouth give the aperture an almost triangular shape, and the whole shell a somewhat remarkable appearance.