28 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1879. 



Melampus luteus, Quoy et Gaimnrd. 



Auricula lutea, Q. et G., Voy. Astrol. vol. II. p. 1G3, pi. 13, fig. 2.">-27. 

 Melampus luteus, Pfeiffer, Mon. Auric, p. 36. 

 Conovulus luteus, Anton., Verz. p. 48. 



This species is abundant at all the Polynesian Islands, except 

 the Sandwich and Marquesas groups. 



The only variation is in size, and depth of color ; it is never 

 handed. This, and the preceding species, are found just above 

 high-water mark. 



Omphalotropis curta, sp nov. 



Shell small, rim ate, abbreviately ovate, solid, faintly striate, 

 cinereous under a thin yellowish-olive epidermis; spire obtuse, 

 short, convexly-conical, more or less decorticated ; suture deeply 

 impressed ; whorls five, convex, the last very large, rounded, 

 nearly half the length of the shell, the periphery with a stout 

 rounded keel; basal carination large; aperture nearly vertical, 

 roundly-ovate, whitish or reddish \ellow ; peristome rather thick, 

 straight, and continuous. 



Length 5, major diameter 3 V mill. 



Quite distinct from any other Polynesian species, and may be 

 readily distinguished by its short stout slmpe, and large rounded 

 keel. 



Chondrella striata, Pease. 



Ghondrella striata, Pease, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1871, p. 477. 

 Ilydrocena striata, Schmeltz, Cat. Mus. Godeff. No. 5, p. 100. 



Mr. De Gage sent several examples of this species, which dif- 

 fered none from Cook's and Society Islands specimens. 



They inhabit dry localities in forests, and are found adhering to 

 rocks, dead wood, and the under surface of loose stones. 



They vary slightly in size, height of spire, distinctness and size 

 of the spiral, raised lines, which in some examples are obsolete. 

 The color is usually reddish-brown, sometimes ruddy corneous, 

 rarely pale j'ellow. 



The genus Chondrella was established by Mr. Pease in 1871, the 

 tj'pe of which is his Gyclostomaparcum. In his list of Polynesian 

 land shells he records three species, his parva, striata, and mina- 

 tissivia, Sowb. The last inhabits Pitcairn Island. Hydrocena 

 insularis, Crosse, from the Gambier Islands, which Mr. Pease re- 

 ferred to his sub-genus Atropis, is a Chondrella, closely allied to 

 parva, or, more correctly, intermediate between the latter and 



