98 PLACOSTYLUS, FIJI IS. 



leaves a " false-umbilicus " penetrating the axis. Dr. Cox states that 

 some specimens have a parietal tooth, and his figure shows a promi- 

 nence within the middle of the outer lip, evidently abnormal, as it is 

 not alluded to in his description, and is wanting in the specimens be- 

 fore me. These show some variation in the blotches, which may be 

 either rather intense and defined, or paler, larger and less definite at 

 the edges. Moreover, the pink of the spire and lip is sometimes 

 diluted to a flesh tint. It is undoubtedly allied to P. ckryi, 



SPECIES OF THE VITI OR FIJI ARCHIPELAGO. 



The species of this group of islands are allied rather to those of the 

 Solomons than to New Caledonian forms. They are a coherent 

 group of doubtless common ancestry, though the differentiation into 

 dull terrestrial and more brilliant arboreal forms masks the similarity 

 to some extent. Hedley adduces considerable evidence of the 

 alliance of the Fiji and Solomon faunas (Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. 

 Wales (2), vii, p. 339; xxiii, 1898, p. 99). "Recent soundings 

 have developed a plateau of a depth not greater than 1,500 fathoms 

 in a general depth of from 2,000 to 3,000 fathoms, including Tonga 

 and Fiji, and extending westward to Santa Cruz and Solomons." 



Our knowledge of Fiji land snails is chiefly due to the well-directed 

 energy of the renowned South Sea naturalist Andrew Garrett, who 

 not only collected most of the species, but also published two valuable 

 papers, in 1872 and 1887, upon them. Most of the specimens described 

 and illustrated in the present account were received from Garrett. 



Key to Vitian Species. 



a. Shell solid, dull brown or decorticated ; oblong, the last whorl 

 more or less eylindric ; not spirally wrinkled; columella very 

 strongly spiral. 



b. Large and solid, usually covered with a yellowish or brown 

 cuticle; alt. 6777 mill. seemanni, p. lull. 



b l . Smaller, wanting cuticle in adults; alt. 47-54 mill. 



koroensis, p. 101. 

 b 2 . Smaller, cuticle olive-yellowish ; alt. 43 mill. 



kantavuensis, p. 101. 



a 1 . Ovate or oblong, with more or less spired corrugation or mallea- 

 tion ; brown or maculate with green. 



b. Brown or olivaceous, with a heavy parietal callus ; aper- 

 ture whitish. 



