BY C. HEDLEY. 599 



ra 



Tate as Jlactra picra, Deshayes,"^ is erroneous. The real Mad 

 pura,oi which I gathered an example on the beach at Green Island, 

 off Cairns, Queensland, is a larger and flatter species, with smooth 

 dorsal areas. Thirdly, after comparing examples of the so-called 

 Mactra jnira from South Australia with the types of Mactra 

 ahbreviata, Lamk., Mr. Mabille finds that the}^ differ in minor 

 characters and especially by the want of lamellae on the lunule 

 and escutcheon. He considers that the}^ may be a variety of 

 Lamarck's J/, ahbreviata. but prefers to regard them as a related 

 but distinct species. 



Under these circumstances I refrain from describing it as a 

 new species, but as a temporary expedient will call it M. 

 ahbreviata var. Since the shell has never been figured I submit 

 drawings of the hinge and exterior of a specimen 40 mm. in 

 length, 33 mm. in height, and 23 mm. in breadth of conjoined 

 valves. It appears to be related to Mactra rvfescens, Lamk. 

 Collectors more fortunate than myself who have access to the 

 species are invited to ascertain whether the range of variation 

 includes Lamarck's type and to search Peron's collecting grounds, 

 especially King Island, for the type form. 



Purpura pseudamygdala, n.sp. 



Buccinam amy(jdala, Reeve, Conch. Icon., 1846, PI. viii., sp. 60. 



Purpura (Cronia) amygdala, Angas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, 

 p. 191; Brazier, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. i., 1876, p. 200; Smith, 

 Alert Coll. 1884, p. 51 ; Watson, Rep. Zool. Chall. xv., 1886, 

 p. 172; Melvill & Standen, Journ. Linn. Soc. Zool. xxvii., 1899, 

 p. 163. (Not Purpura amygdala, Kiener, Coq. Viv., Purpura, 1836, 

 p. 39, pi. x., f. 26; and Chenu, Man. de Conch, i., 1859, p. 167, 

 f. 807). 



(Plate xxix., figs. 4, 5.) 



Shell ovate-conic, angled at the shoulder, concave below the 

 suture, solid, everywhere roughened by small scales. Whorls 

 about six. Colour pale brown, with four spiral buff bands upon 



Tate, Trans. Roy. Soc. S.A., ix., 1887, p. 



