OP NEW SOUTH WALES. 307 



Archipelago (Adams and Reeve). Percy Island, North-east Coast 

 of Australia (Mr. F. Strange). Cape Grenville, north-east 

 Australia, 25 fathoms, sandy mud bottom, one valve found 

 (Brazier). Darnley Island, Torres Straits, 20 30 fathoms, sandy 

 bottom, one valve found (Brazier). Bulari Passage, New Cale- 

 donia, fine living specimen found in the stomach of a Schnapper, 

 Pagrus unicolor— by Monsieur Fabre, the pilot stationed there. 



This interesting Cardium is, without exception, the most 

 striking and distinct from any hitherto known that can well be 

 imagined. In colour it is of a fine rose tint, with the following 

 singular and peculiar soft velvety appearance, the effect of its 

 being minutely decussated with concentric and radiating stria?, 

 and covered with an exquisitely thin, shining, horny epidermis, dis- 

 posed in fine concentric cords, abruptly terminating at the 

 posterior area. The posterior portion, accordingly destitute of 

 epidermis, is very thickly rayed with ribs of short compressed 

 spines, as if the delicately-clad surface of the shell had been thus 

 far ploughed up as it were into furrows ; a little of the epidermis 

 is removed by the action of being in the stomach of the 

 Schnapper. The specimen I show to-night was sent to me for my 

 inspection and nomenclature by my kinsman, Mr. P. C. Rossiter, 

 who has the finest collection of New Caledonian shells. 



There were two fine living specimens'in the Australian Museum 

 some years ago, dredged by the late Mr. F. Strange, at Percy 

 Island ; one specimen was purloined by a gentleman who at 

 one time held an appointment in that institution. 



Description of a New Species of Halmatitrus, from New Ireland — 

 by E. Pierson Ramsay, Curator of the Australian Museum, 

 Sydney. 



Halmaturus Brownii. New Species. 



The whule of the upper surface, the chin and a stripe on either 

 side from the angle of the mouth to the cheek, the outer portion 



