183 



ON A PATELLA SAID TO HAVE BEEN FOUND ON 

 THE KERMADEC ISLANDS. 



By John Brazier, F.L.S., C.M.Z.S. 



Patella (Scutellastra) Pilsbryi, Brazier. 



Patella Kermadecensis, Pilsbry, Nautilus, No. 10, Vol. vii. p. 109, 

 Feb., 1894. 



Hah. — South Africa, not the Kermadec Islands. 



Mr. H. A. Pilsbry says the two specimens of this large species 

 of the subgenus Scutellastra described by him were sent to him 

 by Mr. E. W . Roper, of Revere, Massachusetts, U.S.A., " who 

 obtained them from the original collector." The name of the 

 collector, however, is not given. 



This fine large Patella first came under my notice three years 

 ago, when a specimen much eroded on the back was offered to the 

 Australian Museum by Mr. J. Dall of Collingwood, New Zealand, 

 for a small sum. Since then specimens of the same species, under 

 the name of Patella magellanica, Martyn, from the Kermadec 

 Islands, have been offered by a New Zealand curio dealer to 

 Sydney conchologists. 



A large specimen, 5x4 inches, received by me from my corres- 

 pondent Mr. R. Murdoch of Wanganui, N.Z., who purchased it 

 from a N. Zealand dealer under the name P. magellanica, Martyn, 

 has adhering to it two specimens of P. cochlear, Born. Now this 

 is a species known only from the Cape of Good Hope and the S. 

 African coast in general. 



Mr. Pilsbry in his description says, "apparently strongly ribbed 

 when perfect but the specimens described are everywhere deeply 

 eroded." The shell when in good order is somewhat strongly 

 ribbed, and between the primary ribs are much finer ones very 

 close together, giving the shell the appearance of canvas. 



