Ringicubi.] GASTKOPODA. 523 



Genus 1. KINGICULA, Deshayes, 1838. 

 Ringicula, Dcshayes, A.s.V., ed. 2, viii, 323. Type : Auricula ringens, Lam. 



The animal is peculiar in the very broad head-disc, produced in 

 a sort of siphon in the middle behind. Jaws separate, oval, reticulated. 

 The dentition closely resembles that of Pkiline and the Scaphandridce. 



Shell small, solid, nearly white, ovate-globose, the spire conical ; 

 aperture from one-half to three-fourths the shell's height, conspicuously 

 notched and channelled at the base ; outer lip thickened and often 

 dentate or crenulate within, margined with callus outside ; columellar 

 margin heavily calloused, with 2 to 4 strong entering folds. 



Distribution. Most of the tropical and subtropical seas. 



Fossil from the Cretaceous. 



]. Ringicula delecta, Murdoch and Suter, 1906. Plate 22, iig. 27. 

 Ehujic-ula ddccla, M. & S., T.N.Z.I., xxxviii, 1905 (1906), 280, pi. 21, f. 5. 



Shell small, oval-globular, imperforate, with a relatively short 

 conoidal spire, somewhat thin. Sculpture consisting of fine slightly 

 variable spirals, which somewhat strengthen on the base, and are 

 little wider than the grooves ; there are 8 to 10 on the penultimate 

 whorl and 30 to 40 on the last, 9 to 12 in front of the aperture. These 

 spirals are crossed by close irregular incremental striae, which in places 

 cut the spirals into minute gemmules, and when prominent produce 

 a lightly costate appearance. Colour white, fresh specimens vitreous. 

 Spire snorter than the aperture, acute, terminating in a sharp apex. 

 Protoconch of about 2 whorls, the nucleus minute, slightly raised, 

 smooth, the second turn microscopically decussate. Whorls 5, rounded, 

 the last proportionately large, globulax, and with convex base. Suture 

 impressed. Aperture vertical, semilunar, angled above, sinuated and 

 with a very short open canal, notched at the base. Outer Up convex, 

 straightened at the periphery, regularly arched below, sharp. ( 'olumella 

 short, vertical, with 2 strong rounded folds, the lower of which is 

 largest, and forms with the end of the columella a prominent rounded 

 point. Inner lip strongly callous on the columella, forming a well- 

 defined callus on the parietal wall, with 1 or 2 low tubercles. 



Diameter, 2-9 mm. ; height, 4-4 mm. 



Animal unknown. 



Type in the Dominion Museum, Wellington. 



Hob. Off Great Barrier Island, in 110 fathoms. 



Fossil. There is a species known from the Pliocene, R. uniplicata, 

 Hutton : Murdoch, T.N.Z.I., xxxii. 216, pi. 20, f. 6. 



Fam. TORNATINID^E, Fischer. 



Animal with the foot shorter than the shell, entire behind, head- 

 shield short, quadrangular, produced in 2 erected processes behind, 

 near the bases of which are the eyes. Radula-teeth wanting. Gizzard 

 .armed with 3 oval tuberculate plates. 



