

430 GASTROPODA. \Pi'rlinilmmchia. 



nodules, the whole surface ornamented with fine and dense growth- 

 lilies. Colour white, the protoconch usually brown. Epidermis thin, 

 light horn-colour. Spire, short, acuminate, conic, turreted, its heigl < 

 a little less than that of the aperture. Protoconch of 1J smooth and 

 convex whorls, the nucleus globular. Whorls 5, regularly increasing, 

 more or less distinctly shouldered, sometimes sharply angled, the last 

 ventricose ; base slightly contracted below. Suture not deep. Aper- 

 ture oblique, narrowly oval, angled above, with a very short widely 

 open canal below, which is notched at the base. Outer lip moderately 

 convex, angled above, thin and sharp, crenate on the outside, slightly 

 lirate inside. Columella vertical, with 3 low rounded and oblique 

 plaits, the lowest continued on the twist of the columella to the beak. 

 Inner lip indistinct, or forming only a very thin callous layer, extend- 

 ing over the convex parietal wall, which is excavated on meeting the 

 columella. 



Diameter, 4-25 mm. ; height. 6-25 mm. (type). Diameter. 4-5 mm. ; 

 height. 7-5 mm. 



Animal unknown. 



Type in the Dominion Museum, Wellingtonr. 



Hab. Stewart Island, 15 fathoms (type) ; near the Snares, in 

 50 fathoms (Captain Bollons). 



Fossil in the Pliocene. 



Fam. PYRENID^E. 

 Columbellidce, Adams. 



Animal very similar to that of the Buccinidce. Radula with the 

 central tooth transverse, semilunar, without cusps or denticles; lateral 

 teeth transverse, flexuous. tricuspidate, the cusps short, the median 

 and outer one nearer together, subterminal ; formula 1 + 1 + I . 



Shell small, imperforate, suboval or turriculate, smooth or orna- 

 mented ; protoconch paucispiral, subglobular ; aperture generally 

 narrcw, with a short canal ; outer lip almost always thickened or 

 varicose, crenate inside ; columella but little excavated, twisted and 

 more or less plicated below : inner lip mostly plicate. 



This family is well characterized by the radula. The central 

 tooth recalls certain forms of Buccinidce. but the lateral teeth are quite 



peculiar. 



KEY TO GENERA. 



A. Canal very short, indistinct, or wanting. 



a. No canal. Shell mitriform, smooth or longitudinally plicate ; 

 columella smooth or with a few anterior rugosities ; outer 

 lip smooth or crenulated within . . . . . . MITRELLA. 



an. With a short canal. 



b. Shell oval-fusiform, axially ribbed, sometimes trellised ; 

 columella smooth or rugose ; outer lip sometimes 

 varicose . . . . - . . . . . ANACHIS. 



hh. Shell fusiform, spirally sculptured, rarely smooth ; 



columella with a single oblique fold at the base . . ALCIHA. 



B. Canal moderately long, straight. Shell fusiform, smooth or 



longitudinally plicate ; last whorl suddenly narrowed into 



a beak or canal . . . . . . ATIIJA. 



