366 GASTROPODA. [Pectimbranchiu. 



base somewhat contracted. Suture impressed, undulating. Aperture 

 narrow and high, angled above, with a short, open, and slightly re- 

 curved canal below, which is distinctly notched at the base. Outer 

 lip moderately arched, sharp, somewhat thickened and smooth inside. 

 Columella subvertical, with 4 slightly oblique plaits, decreasing in size 

 towards the base, the uppermost continued as an oblique riblet over 

 the neck. 



Diameter, 6 mm. ; height, 14 mm. (type, from the Pliocene). Dia- 

 meter,' 4 mm. ; height, 11 mm. (Auckland ; Recent specimen). 



Animal unknown. 



Type, from the Pliocene of Wanganui, in the Canterbury Museum, 

 Christchurch. 



Hob. Hauraki Gulf. 



Remark. The type is a rather large form. Most of the fossil 

 specimens I have, seen are smaller. 



Fossil in the Pliocene. 



5. Vexillum rubiginosum, Hutton, 1873. Plate 18, fig. 7. 



Columbella (Atilia) rubiyhiosa, Hutt., ('..M.M., 20. Mitra nibiginosa, Hutt,, 

 J. de Conch., 1878, 22 ; M.N.Z.M., (id. Turricvla (Pusia) rubiginosa, 

 Hutt,, T.N.Z.I., xvi, 226 ; Plioc. M., 46, pi. 6, f. 19. Colurnbella rubi- 

 <iinos(i, Hutt. : Pace, P. Mai. S., v, 130. Vnlpecula rubiginosa, Hutt,, 

 Index, 74. 



Shell small, fusiform, slightly turreted, axially costate, brown ov 

 purple. Sculpture consisting of distant spiral grooves on the spire- 

 whorls, usually 1 below the edge of the shoulder, sometimes cutting 

 up the top of the axial ribs into nodules, and 2 above the suture ; the 

 lower half of the body-whorl and the base are distinctly spirally lirate ; 

 axial riblets begin to appear on the second whorl below the protoconch : 

 they begin at the edge of the shoulder, and continue to the suture 

 below ; they are straight, equidistant, rounded, with interspaces of 

 the same width, incised by the spiral grooves ; on approaching the 

 outer lip they are getting obsolete, and they also vanish on the base. 

 Colour blackish-purple or reddish-brown, with a white spiral band on 

 the periphery of the last whorl ; base usually orange. Spire conic, 

 turreted, of the same height as the aperture ; outlines almost straight. 

 Protoconch small, smooth, papillate, of li whorls, which are of a pinkish 

 colour. Whorls about 7, the last high, with a flat and narrow shoulder, 

 flatly convex below. Suture superficial. Aperture long and narrow, 

 angled above, with a widely open and somewhat recurved canal, 

 which is notched at its base. Outer lip subangled above, lightly curved, 

 edge rather blunt, smooth within. Columella slightly oblique, with 

 4 moderately oblique plaits, decreasing in size towards the base, the 

 lowest minute ; they are usually continued as spirals on the neck. 

 Inner lip thin, narrow, distinctly limited, extending over the concave 

 parietal wall, which has a low tubercle below the suture. 



Diameter, 3-8 mm. ; height, 7-5 mm. (type). 



