472 Transactions . 



sider generically distinct from the Neozelanic " Kalydon," and which I 

 would unhesitatingly class with Purpura scobina Quoy and Gaimard in the 

 genus Lepsiella, with that species as type. As a synonym of "Kalydon " 

 vinosus (Lamarck), Hedley seems to quote Ricinula adelaidensis Crosse and 

 Fischer. From the series in the British Museum I -assert that this is a 

 distinct species : as far as I can judge, it is an impossible variation. 



Under the above circumstances Trophon recurvus Philippi would replace 

 Trophon paivae Crosse, but two factors intervene. Hedley suggests that. 

 Hutton intended Fusus hanleyi Angas when he used Crosse's name. When 

 T studied the Australian shells named Trophon paivae in the Australian 

 Museum I did not recognize in them the Neozelanic shells so named. The 

 latter, however, resemble T. paivae more closely than they do F. hanleyi 

 Angas. I consequently propose the above name for the Neozelanic shells, 

 and thus obviate the introduction of an erroneous name into the Neozelanic 

 list. Suter's description does not apply to the types of paivae Crosse 

 = recurvus Philippi, nor hanleyi Angas, ;ill of which T have examined in 

 connection with this note. 



Fam. Thaididae Dall. [P. 420.] 



The arrangement of the Neozelanic species of this family is probably 

 based on Dr. Dall's paper in the U.S. Geol. Survey, Professional Paper 59, 

 to which Suter refers the Neozelanic student for full synonymy. That 

 paper will not, however, be commonly available to such ; and, moreover, it 

 is of such a skeletal nature as to prohibit usage in connection with austral 

 shells. I here give the synopsis provided by Dall. so that my criticisms 

 may be followed by the reader : — 



Genus Thais Bolten, 1798. 

 Subgenus Thais s. str. 



Section Thais s. str. Type : T. neritoides = M . fucus Gmel. 



Tribulus H. & A. Ad., 1853. Type : T. planispira Lam. 

 Pinaxia H. & A. Ad., 1853. Type: T. coronata H. & A. 



Ad. = adamsi Dall. 

 Mancinella Link, 1807. Type : T. mancinella Gmel. 

 Stramonita Schum., 1817. Type : T. haemastoma Linn. 

 Lepsia Hutton, 1853. Type : T. haustrum Maityn. 

 Patellipurpura Dall, nov. Type : T. patula Lam. 

 Plicopurpura Cossm., 1903. Type : T. coluniellaris Lam. 

 Subgenus Nassa Bolten, 1798. Type : T. sertitm Lam. 

 Subgenus Cronia H. & A. Ad., 1853. Type : T. amygdala Kiener. 

 Subgenus Nucella Bolten, 1798. 



Section Nucella s. str. Type : T. lapillus Lam. 



Trochia Swains., 1840. Type : T. cingulata Linne. 



Dall has also given a general synonymy without placing the synonyms 

 under the sections or subgenera. He has stated that the animals vary 

 little, and that shell characters appear to become confused. I think this 

 latter statement is due to the lack of study of juveniles and their growth- 

 stages. If this were undertaken, probably much of the confusion would be 

 dispelled. It must be obvious that in a littoral genus such as Thais similar 

 environmental stress must have brought about similar shell-formation in 

 many cases. I have studied the Neozelanic and Australian species through 

 many stages, and I have already expressed my disapproval of the un- 

 satisfactory nature of Dall's classification when applied to austral species. 



