THE NAUTILUS. 



VOL. XIV. MARCH, 19O1. No. 11 



A CONTRIBUTION TO WEST COAST CONCHOLOGY. 



BY IIENKY HEMPHILL. 



Helix v&v.feralis Hem phi 11. 



Shell im perforate, smooth, compact, globose, white (faded), con- 

 sisting of five convex whorls, the last with an obscure band at the 

 periphery, and slightly descending at the aperture ; spire elevated, 

 somewhat pointed ; sutures well impressed ; aperture oblique, 

 cramped, not effuse, about as wide as high ; peristome reflected, 

 thickened, its face rounded, the basal portion in some of the speci- 

 mens slightly appressed to the body, its terminations very little 

 approached. Subfossil. 



Diam. 18, alt. 13 mm.; diam. 16, alt. 11 mm.; diam. 15, alt. 

 11 mm.; diam. 10, alt. 8 mm. 



Habitat : San Nicolas and Santa Barbara Islands. 



The Santa Barbara Island specimens measure as follows : Diam. 

 15, alt. 10 mm.; diam. 14, alt. '.) mm.; diam. 12^, alt. 7^- mm. 



This shell appears to be somewhat rare. Thirty-five specimens 

 all told good, bad and indifferent were all I found in the week I 

 had on San Nicolas Island, and about ten occurred on Santa Bar- 

 bara Island. 



The lot shows considerable variation in the elevation or depres- 

 sion of the spire, as well as in size, as will be seen by the measure- 

 ments. 



I regard it as a variety of the very variable H. rnficincta Newc., 

 but perhaps the species-makers would be better pleased to call it 

 distinct. 



