i 7 7 



subsequent whorls 2, the upper one with 2, the last with 3 strong keels; these whorls are flat 

 between suture and upper keel, more or less concave between the lower keels and towards the 

 base. Sculpture consisting of faint spiral grooves with rather large interstices, crossed by stronger 

 growth-striae, the keels of last whorl are sculptured by strong spirals, the shell is covered by 

 a thick, fibrous, yellowish-brown epidermis, with strong grooves, a few spinous fibres are visible 

 here and there on the keels. Aperture subcircular, but with many angles, of which one at the 

 upper part, three are formed by the keels, which are hollow interiorly, and one by a basal 

 channel. Columellar margin concave, interrupted by the basal keel, tortuous below, terminating 

 in a blunt point, joining the basal margin by the rounded basal channel, the columella is 

 provided with a layer of enamel, nearly covering an umbilical slit.. 



Operculum oval, corneous, with some strong ribs at the distal margin. 



Alt. 13 1 /.,, lat. 16; apert. alt. 9 1 /,,, lat. 7 1 /;,, with keels 8 l /„ Mill. 



This is a very remarkable species; amongst those described it has only a remote 

 resemblance with T. bicarinata Brod. and Sow. and T. coronata Gould, it differs however so 

 much from both, that it is not necessary to insist upon the differences. The three very strong, 

 hollow spiral keels are most characteristic. As to the generic position, the epidermis, shape of 

 aperture with basal channel and the operculum have guided me. As I would not destroy the 

 only specimen, I was unable to examine the radula. 



Genus ? 

 1. sp. PI. XII, fig 3; PI. XVI, fig. 3. 



Stat. 211. 5°4o'.7S., i20°45'.5 E. Banda Sea. 1 1 58 M. Coarse grey mud. 2 Spec. 



I found in the same tube containing the former species, two smaller shells, both perhaps 

 young, which I could not identify even generically ; they have a superficial resemblance with 

 the new Trichotropis, by being turbinate, with a fibrous epidermis and three keels, but these 

 keels are much less sharp or conspicuous, and the chief difference consists in the aperture, 

 which is slightly angular but not channelled below, the number of whorls is about 4 of which 

 about i 1 /* form a rather large nucleus, and 2 l / 2 are depressed above, between the conspicuous 

 suture and the uppermost keel. 



Alt. 6 1 /,, lat. 6 1 /,; apert. alt. 3 1 /,, lat. 3 1 /, Mill. 



I sent the largest specimen to Mr. E. A. Smith, who was also in doubt about its syste- 

 matic position, so I have abstained myself from naming it. 



The radula resembles more that of Crucióulum than of Trichotropis, the rhachidian 

 tooth (R) is subquadrangular, with a large multicuspidate cusp, I see 8 small denticles on each 

 side of the median one, the laterals (1) are subrhombic, with a long cusp with denticles on both 

 sides, about 8 on the distal side; the uncini (U) are elongate, with a few denticles near the 

 point. This latter character is not in accordance with what is known of Trichotropidae. (Should 

 it be possible that these small denticles have been overlooked? In - Trichotropis the teeth much 

 cover each other). 



69 



