34 HELIX-AMPELITA. 



istome reflexed, the upper margin dilated, columellar margin short, 

 forming an obtuse angle with the base. 



Alt. 14 *, greater diam. 38, lesser 32 mill. (Pfr.) 



Madagascar. 



H. xystera VAL. in Paris Museum. PFEIFFER, Symbols i, p. 

 41 ; Monographia i, p. 392 ; Conchyl. Cab., p. 343, t. 61, f. 4-6. 

 REEVE, Couch. Icon., f. 185. FER., Hist, t. 62 A, f. 5-7. H. lanx 

 Desh. olim. 



H. SHAVI E. A. Smith. PL 2, figs. 32, 33, 34. 



Shell thinnish with a funnel-like umbilicus, orbicular, very flat 

 above, very acutely keeled, sculptured with oblique subflexuous lines 

 of growth and most minute spiral strise, and exhibiting, especially 

 on the upper surface an irregular fine granulation. Epidermis 

 yellowish-olivaceous, thin. Spire very slightly raised, with the 

 apex sunk below the penultimate whorl. Volutions 4, the 3 first 

 feebly convex, the last very sharply carinated above the middle, 

 visibly concave on each side of the keel, with a brown line at the 

 suture and with or without a stripe of the same color upon the 

 carina. Beneath it is only a little convex, and forms with the 

 umbilicus which is stained with violet-brown a decided angulation. 

 Toward the aperture it suddenly descends from the carina about 

 3-i millimeters. Aperture transverse, horizontal, white exhibiting 

 the sutural brown band and that at the periphery, when present. 

 Peristome more or less stained with violet-brown, everywhere re- 

 flexed, the extremities much converging, upper margin oblique, 

 straitish, lower regularly curved, forming an angle at the outer 

 extremity. Columella slopingly arcuate, violet-brown. 



Alt. 12, greater diam. 27, lesser 22 mill. (Smith.) 



Tanala Province, Madagascar. 



H. (Ampelita) Shavi SMITH, Journ. of Conch, ii, 1879, p. 339 ; 

 P. Z. S. 1882, p. 382, t. 22, f. 1-3. 



This species has the general fades of H. xystera or H. cazenavetti. 

 The former is a larger species, more widely umbilicated, with a non- 

 descending last whorl and a malleated upper surface ; the latter 

 also possessing the two last-mentioned characteristics, is more narrow- 

 ly umbilicated, more solid, and in fact appears to differ but very 

 slightly from H. lancula. (Smith.) 



Specimens subsequently received by Mr. Smith are larger, greater 

 diam. 35, lesser 28 mill.; all retain the character of the last whorl 



