bartsch: classification of helicinidae 651 



of the base. A cotype collected by Cuming, Cat. No. 302753, has 5 

 whorls and measures: altitude, 9.2 mm., greater diameter, 17.3 mm. 



The shells from the island of Ticao belonging to this section have 

 the base decidedly inflated and the aperture very high, which gives the 

 operculum an oval, rather than a trapezoidal appearance. The shells 

 are large, barium yellow, paling toward the aperture. The upper sur- 

 face is marked by coarse irregular lines of growth, the suture being ren- 

 dered irregular and wavy by the coarse sculpture. The peripheral keel 

 is reduced to a cord, which is limited by a shallow depression on the 

 under side only. These shells may be known as Geophorus ticaoensis 

 n. sp. The type. Cat. No. 256999, comes from San Miguel, Ticao. 

 It has 5 whorls and measures: altitude, 8.9 mm.; greater diameter, 

 14.8 mm. 



The most difficult group of this section is represented in our collec- 

 tion by a series of specimens from the islands of Mindoro, Palawan, 

 Samar, and Masbate. This group embraces medium-sized shells having 

 a moderately elevated spire and a narrow peripheral keel, which is 

 bounded on the lower side by a well incised spiral line. They represent 

 a distinct group to which the name Geophorus tantalus n. sp. may be 

 applied. I have seen good series of specimens from the four above 

 mentioned islands which demand a further subdivision of this species, as 

 indicated in the key. The specimens from Samar have the shell mus- 

 tard yellow and this race may carry the subspecific name Geophorus 

 tantalus tantalus Bartsch. The type. Cat. No. 288773, comes from 

 near Catbalogan, has 5 whorls, and measures: altitude, 7.1 mm.; 

 greater diameter, 10.7 mm. 



The specimens from Masbate are of similar coloration as the last 

 excepting that on the last two turns a lighter yellow zone bounds the 

 summit. This race may be known as Geophorus tantalus masbatensis 

 n. subsp. The type of this. Cat. No. 258769, comes from Cataingan 

 Bay and has 5.5 whorls, and measures: altitude, 6 mm.; greater diame- 

 ter, 10.2 mm. 



The western specimens, i.e., those from the islands of Mindoro and 

 Palawan, have the extreme tip mustard yellow and the turns immedi- 

 ately succeeding capucine orange. In the specimens from Palawan the 

 last turn is pale capucine orange. This species may bear the name 

 Oeophorus tantalus palawanensis n. sp. The type of this. Cat. No. 

 334256, comes from Bacuit, has 5.1 whorls and measures: altitude, 

 6.3 mm.; greater diameter, 10.6 mm. 



The shells from Mindoro agree with the last excepting that the last 

 turn is flesh colored. These may bear the trinomial designation Geo- 



