26 Mr. W, H. Benson on the Burmese genus Sophina. 



III. On the Burmese genus Sophina. 

 By W. H. BENSON, Esq. 



FURTHER contributions of shells from the vicinity of Moulmein 

 have enabled me to present more correct diagnoses of Sophina 

 forabilis and S. Calias than those published in the f Annals ' for 

 May and June 1859 ; also to state that the singular rift in the 

 columella is common to all the three species assigned to the 

 genus. S. forabilis has been found by Capt. J. C. Haughton at 

 the caves of Damathd. The imperfect specimen first described 

 was from the Tenasserim Valley, and was defective at the most 

 important part of the aperture, as were also those of S. Calias 

 first sent by Major E. H. Sankey. Hopes were entertained that 

 the present notes might have been accompanied by some account 

 of the animal of Sophina ; but unfortunately it has not yet been 

 obtained in a living state. 



It appears highly probable that the Mollusk may be allied 

 rather to the bitentaculate, bathrommatous, and inoperculate 

 Western genera Ceres and Proserpina, than to the acrommatous 

 genus Helix ; but at present this can be merely a matter for 

 conjecture. Even if this singular form should prove to be 

 really Helicidous in character, its separation from Helix will rest 

 on as strong or even stronger grounds than some of the groups 

 which have, by common consent, been accepted as genera; 

 and it may possibly take its place between Nanina and Glandina. 



Sophina, B., gen. nov. (char, emend.). 



Testa Heliciformis ; columella callosa, declivis, cum margine basali 

 ^ angulum efformans; angulus rimatus, rima in carina umbilicali 



spirali desinente ; callus parietalis tenuis expansiusculus. 

 Helix (Sect. Sophina, B., Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 3. vol. iii. p. 473). 



Sophina Calias, B. (char, emend.). 



Testa anguste umbilicata, orbiculato-depressa, solidiuscula, oblique 

 striatula, polita, pallide cornea ; spira planata, apice saliente, ob- 

 tuso, sutura marginata, canaliculata ; anfractibus 5 subconvexis, 

 sensim accrescentibus, ultimo ad ambitum rotundato, subtus con- 

 vexiusculo ; apertura lunata, obliqua, peristomate recto, acuto, 

 margine columellari oblique recurvatim descendente, calloso, extus 

 crenulato, cum basali angulum fere rectum, arete rimatum, effor- 

 mante, rima extremitatem carinse umbilicalis, sensim spiraliter 

 intrantis, incidente ; umbilici perspectivi pariete intus horizonta- 

 liter confer tim sulcato. 



Diam. major 9, minor 7|, axis 4 mill. 



Habitat prope Moulmein, ad cavernas " Farm Caves" dictas. 



Syn. Helix Calias, Benson, Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 3. vol. iii. p. 473. 



