Murdoch. — Additions to Marine Motlusca of N.Z. 219 



Clathurella epentroma, n. sp. Figs. 3, 4. 



Shell small, narrowly fusiform, the spire slender. Colour light 

 reddish-brown or dull- chestnut. Whorls 5 J, rounded or obscurely 

 angled above the periphery, adorned with fine spiral and longi- 

 tudinal sculpture, the latter strongest. Sutures deep. Proto- 

 conch of about one and a half whorls, strongly angled, and with 

 four smooth narrow revolving riblets, the posterior minute and 

 situate near to the suture ; the apical half-turn obliquely curved 

 down and somewhat imbedded in the succeeding whorl. The 

 last whorl rather longer than the spire. Adult sculpture : The 

 longitudinals number fifteen to sixteen small riblets on the 

 last whorl, equal to or rather wider than the interspaces, and 

 usually less developed on the anterior end ; they are continuous 

 in some, irregular in others. The spirals consist of undulating 

 delicate riblets and threads. On the spire-whorls there are two, 

 and on the last seven or eight slightly stronger ; of these the four 

 posterior are more widely spaced, two are above the outer lip 

 and one in line with it ; frequently forming beads on crossing the 

 longitudinals. Within these spaces there are, on that adjoining 

 the suture, four or five threadlets, sometime irregular in size ; 

 on the succeeding three spaces, usually three threadlets in each, 

 the median one frequently strongest. Anterior to this the inter- 

 spaces with one to three threads. The old beaks sometimes 

 forming short irregular riblets. Aperture of medium breadth, 

 less than half its length. Outer lip simple, the posterior sinus 

 shallow. Columella lightly curved, the anterior canal short and 

 broad. Length, 5*73 mm. ; breadth, 2 - 11 mm. 



Type in the Colonial Museum. 



Hab. Whangaroa Harbour (Mr. A. Hamilton). 



This is a very beautifully sculptured little shell. The spirals 

 on the anterior portion of the last whorl are somewhat variable 

 in number and strength. The lightly angular appearance of the 

 spire whorls in some individuals is due to the more prominent 

 spirals being rather more pronounced ; the spaces on these whorls 

 are similarly adorned to the posterior portion of the last. 



Clathurella epentroma, Murdoch, var. whangaroaensis, n. var. 



Fig. 5. 



Differs from the typical form in the whorls being strongly 

 angled, spire somewhat turrited, and the principal spiral riblets 

 much more pronounced, but similarly placed. Colour, number 

 of whorls, and protoconch the same as typical. Longitudinal 

 ribs fourteen on the last whorl, equal to or narrower than the 

 interspaces. Spirals — on the spire whorls two, and on the last 

 four or five, prominent and forming beads on crossing the longi- 



