Volvulella.} GASTROPODA. 529 



Genus 2. VOLVULELLA, Newton, 1891. 



Volvulella, Newton, Syst. List Edwards Coll. Brit. Olig. & Eoc. Moll., 268. 

 Type : F. ncvirnnata, Bruguiere. Volvula, A. Adams, in Sowerby's 

 Thes. Conch., ii, 1850, 558 ; not Volvulus, Oken, 1815, nor of Brulle 

 1835. 



Animal with a squarish frontal disc, produced into 2 processes 

 behind, in front of which are the eyes. No epipodial lobes ; foot 

 shorter than the shell. 



Shell external, subcylindrical or long-oval, tapering at both ends, 

 the body-whorl more or less produced in a beak or spine above ; 

 spire concealed ; aperture as long as the shell, very narrow ; the outer 

 lip simple, produced above ; columella somewhat thickened, with the 

 trace of a fold. 



Distribution. European seas, Antilles, Indian Ocean, China and 

 Japan to Australasia. 



Fossil from the Eocene. 



1. Volvulella reflexa, Button, 1886. Plate 23, fig. 2. 



Cylichna (Volmla) rcflixa, Hvitt., T.N.Z.I., xviii, 1885 (1886), 333. 



Shell small, subcylindrical, with a sharply pointed vertex and 

 narrowly rounded base, polished, spirally striate. Sculpture consist- 

 ing of a few distant spiral hues on the base and vertex, with in- 

 conspicuous fine spiral lines at the middle, which are much closer 

 together ; growth-lines fine. Colour yellowish-white. Only 1 whorl 

 visible, which is produced to a sharp point above, flattened at the 

 middle, narrowed at the base. Aperture as long as the shell, very 

 narrow above, widened below. Outer lip simple, sharp, extending 

 above to the vertex. Basal lip narrowly convex, slightly effuse. 

 Columella short, oblique, with an indistinct fold. Inner lip strongly 

 reflected over the columella and parietal wall, a very thin glaze ex- 

 tending over the inner half of the ventral side of the body-whorl. 



Length, 0-12 in. (= 3mm.), (type, from the Miocene). Diameter, 

 1-7 mm. ; height, 5 mm. (adult Recent specimen). 



Animal unknown. 



Type, from the Miocene of White Rock River, South Canterbury, 

 in the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch. 



Hob. Off Cuvier Island, in 38 to 40 fathoms (Captain Bollons). 



Remarks. This species was discovered by my friend Mr. R. 

 Murdoch, of Wanganui, in dredgings from Cuvier Island. He com- 

 pared the specimens with fossil forms which were undoubtedly Mutton's 

 species, and he is of opinion that the Recent shells cannot be sepa- 

 rated from them. Since then I found two specimens, one of them 

 adult, in dredgings from the same locality, kindly given to me by 

 Captain Bollons. 



Fossil in the Miocene. 



