AURIS-OTOSTOMTS. 107 



Subgenus OTOSTOMUS Beck, 1837. 



(For references see p. 95). 



Shell obliquely ovate, of solid cretaceous texture, umbilicate ; 

 spire smooth without folds or rib-striae; aperture oblong, produced 

 forward below, two-thirds the shell's length ; peristome basin-shaped, 

 the outer lip broadly reflexed, with an inner concave flange, the 

 columella with a strong, plate-like fold. Type Auris signata. 



The only known species inhabits the Province of Bahia, Brazil. 

 The flajiged lip, fold-bearing columella, and solid, cretaceous texture, 

 all indicate the close relationship of this form to the typical Auris 

 and to Eiufalichotis, and sunder it from such forms as B tdimus auris- 

 leporis. 



The type of Otostomns was expressly stated by Gray and by Herr- 

 mannsen as early as 1847, to be A. signata. The subsequent selec- 

 tion of aurisleporis as type of Otostomus by von Martens (1860) can- 

 not therefore be held valid. 



A. SIGNATA Spix. PI. 40, fig. 20. 



Shell umbilicate-rimate, ear-shaped, solid, strong and opaque, cal- 

 careous ; white or nearly so, with four wide brown spiral bands, often 

 much interrupted or transformed into vertical streaks; spire white 

 or whitish, the apex black, several early whorls with a black sub- 

 sutural band, rarely lacking. Surface lusterless, roughened by very 

 irregular longitudinal wrinkles. Spire conic, short, apex obtuse; 

 whorls 5, the last oblong, distorted. 



Aperture two-thirds the shell's length, oblong, oblique, produced 

 forward below, the opening very much contracted ; peristome white, 

 broadly reflexed, thick, its face basin-shaped, widened within by a 

 broad concave flange extending from base to above middle of outer 

 lip, its edge often weakly crenulated ; columellar margin reflexed, 

 thick, long and straight, its inner edge showing a rounded sinus be- 

 low and a wide lamellar fold above ; parietal wall short, covered 

 with a white callus. Alt. 41, diarn. 23 mill. 



Province of Bahia, Br~il. 



Auris signata SPIX, Test. Bras., p. 17, pi. 12, f. 3.Auri* viflnta 

 SPIX, 1. c., f. 4. Auricula signata WAGNER, in Spix, p. 17. Helix 

 signata MORIC., Mem. Soc. Phys. Hist. Nat. Geneve, vii, p. 431.- 

 Bulimus signatus DESK, in Lam., An. s. Vert, viii, p. 254; in F<T., 

 Hist., ii, ]>. 64, pi. 152, f. 15-18. GRATELOUP, Actes Soc. Linn. 

 Bord.,xi, p. 422, pi. 2, f. 13. PFR., Conchyl. Cab., p. 145, pi. 18, f. 



