14 THE NAUTILUS. 



suggest Andaman and sometimes Indian species. None may be 

 directly referred to any Sumatra species. These species of Enganio 

 and Sumatra that do most resemble one another are widely distribu- 

 ted throughout the Malayan province, yet none of them are identi- 

 cal. It should be admitted, however, that the Sumatran land shells 

 are less perfectly known than those of either Java or the mainland, 

 and it is possible that a more thorough conchological exploration of 

 the island might disprove the conclusion that Enganio bears to it so 

 distant a relation. 



1. Melania (Melanoides) herculea Gld. var. PI. 2, fig. 6. 



This species with variabilis Bens., episcopalis Lea, of India ; julieni 

 Desh., chaperi, perakensis from the Malay peninsula; bocceana Brot. 

 from Sumatra ; varicosa and infracostata from Java, etc., constitute a 

 natural group of allied forms admitting a considerable range of speci- 

 fic variation. Many of the more recently published species of this 

 group, will, I believe, be found to be no more than local varieties of 

 Benson's well known Melania variabilis. Dr. Brot suggests the 

 identity of M. herculea and M. variabilis, which, if correct, will re- 

 duce the former to varietal rank ; nevertheless I have thought it 

 best to refer these specimens to herculea as they agree almost per- 

 fectly with authentic examples in the National Museum. In the 

 Enganio shells the whorls are slightly less rounded than in the 

 typical form, and the number of heavy longitudinal ribs is some- 

 what greater (16 to 20). The inside of the aperture is bluish-white 

 with two purplish-brown revolving color bands to be seen upon the 

 outside of the shell only in young specimens. 



2. Melania (Melanoides} badia n. -. PL 2, fig. 7. 



Shell heavy, strong. Whorls 14 to 15, excavated below the 

 suture, the first 3 or 4 generally lost ; remaining upper whorls 

 decorated with sharp longitudinal riblets which are crossed just 

 above the suture by a series of four revolving strise. The balance 

 of the shell is perfectly smooth, no trace of other than faint growth 

 lines being visible under the glass. The median whorls of the spire 

 are ornamented with a revolving row of spots, or broken line, of 

 dark chestnut. Suture simple ; below the suture a zone of some- 

 what lighter color on the last three whorls. Aperture small, 

 widened below, pointed above, outer lip simple, columella callous. 

 Bluish within, a rich chestnut without. Height 40, diam. 12 mm. 



The main characters of this shell are (a) its solidity, (b) costate 

 upper whorls, (c) smooth lower whorls, (d) interrupted line of dark 



