Mr. Broderip on a 7iew Species of Cyprcea. 163 



Art. XVII. Description of a new species of Cyprcea, 

 By W. J. Broderip, Esq., B. A,^ F. R, S,, F. L, S., Sec. 

 G. S., S^c. 



Cyprcea Leucodon. 

 C. testa ovato-gibbosa, fulva, albo-guttata, linea dorsali ad dex- 



trum latus approximante ; subtus pallidiori, dentibus magnis, ebur- 



neis; extremitatibuspromiuentibus; intus albida. 

 Tab. V. 



Habitat? Mus. Nost. 



Shell ovate-gibbous, tawny, irregularly spotted with white blotches 

 which are in some instances confluent at the sides, but are distinct on 

 the back of the shell. The dorsal line is somewhat paler and ap- 

 proaches the right side. Beneath, the colour is less intense, and the 

 teeth are very strongly developed, and of an ivory whiteness. The 

 surface of the ventral disc is rendered a little uneven by pale tuber- 

 cles which appear beneath it and seem to have been, originally, white 

 spots. The thickened margin is slightly undulated, especially towards 

 the anterior and posterior terminations of the right side, bearing resem- 

 blance to the undulation on the same part of the right margin of Ovulum 

 Ovum. The interior is white, and the extremities are prominent. 



This fine Cowry affords a very striking example of the developement 

 of the teeth which arfe most strongly marked in this species. I know of 

 no other example of the shell which is, I believe, entirely new and 

 figured in this Journal for the first time. Its locality is unknown to me. 



It may not be uninteresting to give a few remarks on the habits of 

 this genus which were made by an eye witness. Mr. Samuel Stutchbury, 

 who had an opportunity of examining many individuals of C. Tigris at 

 the Pearl Islands, informed me that those cowries lived there in* very 

 shallow water, and always under rolled masses of Madrepore. They 

 never were to be seen exposed to the sun's rays. On lifting one of 

 these masses, a Tiger Cowry was generally observed with its shell 

 Oitirely covered by the large mantle which was mottled with dark colours, 



