30 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY Of [1886. 



NEW SPECIES OF PARTUL&. FROM THE NEW HEBRIDES AND SOLOMON 



ISLANDS. 



BY W. D. HARTMAN, M. D. 



The new species of Partula herein described, are almost all of 

 one type. The shells of most species from the Solomon Islands 

 are thin, and more or less translucent, with numerous waved spiral 

 strife, a compressed umbilicus, a moderately reflected and concave 

 lip, and (when viewed through a glass) the embryonic whorls of 

 the apex are rounded or dome-shaped. Like other Partulte, indi- 

 viduals of the different species are often variable, especiall^'^ in 

 the greater or less obliquity of the aperture. These thin shells 

 possess so many features in common, that it is often difficult, in 

 the absence of illustrations, to frame a diagnosis sufficiently dis- 

 tinctive to enable the reader to recognize a species from the de- 

 scription alone. I have embraced the present opportunity to 

 figure a few species not heretofore delineated, amongst which is 

 the lost species, P. rufa, Lesson. 



This shell has been found on the banks of the Leila River, 

 Chabroul Harbor, Uhalan or Strong's Island, by Capt. Brazier, C. 

 M. Z. S. I have seen three examples. It is very distinct from P. 

 Guamensis, Pfr., with which it has been confounded ; the latter is 

 an arboreal species from Ponape, one of the Caroline group. 

 P. rufa, Less., is a much smaller species than P. Guamensis^ Pfr., 

 which it resembles in color, contour and texture. Farther explo- 

 rations in the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands will doubtless 

 reveal many new species of Partula. 



P. similaris, nobis. Plate II, fig. 1. 



Shell dextral, oblong ovate, thin and translucent; whorls 5, 

 convex, spire half the length, oblique lines fine and decussated 

 by coarse spiral striae, umbilicus compressed ; aperture rounded 

 ovate ; lip white, color yellowish white, with the apex very pale 

 rose. Length 17 mill., diameter 9 mill. ; length of aperture 6 mill., 

 diameter 4 mill. 



Hab. Woodlark Island, near New Guinea (Capt. Brazier). 



Ohs. For size and contour this shell is near P. Car-teriejisis, 

 Pfr. ; it is thinner and less solid, with a more rounded aperture, 

 and concave lip. 



