458 Transactions. 



whilst another one proposed by Gistel — viz., Charonia — was. I therefore 

 advocated the use of this genus-name (" Nautilus," vol. xxvii, p. 55, 1913), 

 and also proposed that the family-name should be Cymatiidae, basing this 

 upon the oldest generic name in the group, Cymatium Bolten, 1798. 



From a criticism of the British Museum material I cannot advocate 

 the recognition of all of Dall's groups, whilst the nomenclature must be 

 amended. 



Kesteven had suggested the abolition of all sectional grouping, and 

 the reference of all the species to the genus-name Lotorium (= Cymatium), 

 indicating that no marked groups were distinguishable. I do not agree 

 with this statement, as there are certainly well-differentiated series, and 

 Kesteven's connecting-links, in many cases, were due to a misunderstanding 

 of the species so considered. I think that a mean between Dall's treatment 

 and that of Kesteven would be an advancement ; but much study must 

 be given, as there can be no question that the group, from a taxonomic 

 point of view, is a difficult one. Nevertheless, the association of such shells 

 as Murex labiosus Wood and Murex tritonis Linne in the same genus seems 

 inadequately to represent their relationship. 



For the Neozelanic species I would consider the facts best shown by 

 the scheme hereafter given. The British Museum collection has been 

 arranged on Dall's plan, and I have simply amended it where it seems 

 possible ; but, as already stated, a competent monographer might alter 

 my grouping, though I consider it shows the facts fairly well. 



At the Kermadecs I obtained specimens of many species of this family 

 and the family Bursidae which do not occur in Neozelanic waters as far 

 as is yet known. The recent recognition of " Cymatium parkinsonianum 

 Perry " suggests that some of these may yet be discovered in the extreme 

 north of New Zealand. 



My arrangement would read as follows : — 



Fam. Cymatiidae Iredale. 



Genus Charonia. Gistel, 1848. 



Charonia lampas (Linne, 1758). 



tritonis (Linne, 1758). 



Genus Cymatium Bolten, 1798. 



Subgenus Monoplex Perry, 1811. 



Cymatium parthenopeum (von Salis, 1793). 

 Subgenus Cabestdna Bolten, 1798. 

 Cymatium exaratum (Reeve). 



spengleri (Perry, 1811). 



Genus Austrotriton Cossmann, 1903. 



Austrotriton parkinsonia (Perry, 1811). 

 Genus Argobuccinum Morch, 1852. 

 Argobuccinum tumidum Dunker. 



australasia (Perry, 1811). 



Charonia lampas (Linne, 1758). [P. 303.] 



Mr. E. A. Smith, I.S.O., has recently investigated the status of Murex 

 lampas Linne, Syst. Nat., ed. x, p. 748, 1758, from the Mediterranean 

 Sea, and has shown (Journ. Conch., 1914) that it refers to the species 

 Triton nodifer Lamarck, 1822. This name Suter has synonymized with 

 Septa rubicunda Perry, 1811, which name, on the score of priority, is 

 used. But Mr. Smith has also noted that Tritonium opis Bolten, Mus. 



