BY C. HEDLEY 461 



MiTRA suBDiviSA Bolten var. intermedia Kierier. 



Vexillum subdivisum Bolten, Mus. Bolt. (2), 1798, p. 139, for 

 Chemnitz, Conch. Cab. x. 1788, p.l71, P1.151, f.1436-7; Alitra 

 intermedia Kiener, Spec, des Coq., Mitra, 1839, p. 73, PI. 22, f.70. 



The nomenclature of this form proceeded thus : Chemnitz 

 figured and described polynomially two species of Mitra as one. 

 To the amalgam, Gmelin, in 1791, gave the name of Valuta sub- 

 divisa. Seven years later this specific name was, by Bolten, 

 restricted to Chemnitz' figures 1436-7, leaving the other shell,, 

 illustrated by figs. 1434-5, to bear the title of Mitra lijrata^ sub- 

 sequently imj)osed on it by Lamarck.* An elongate form was 

 distinguished b}- Kiener as Mitra iritermedia, but Deshayesf 

 reduced it to varietal rank. Reeve's Monograph of Mitra, sa 

 slovenly in preparation, so disorderly in presentation, gives no 

 help in unravelling a complicated synonymy. 



The shell has been reported by Melvill & StandenJ from Murray- 

 Island. Besides the present record of the Hope Islands, I have 

 traced it south to Dunk and Palm Islands. 



While on the subject of Mitra, I might discuss a puzzling 

 record of Mitra decnrtata Reeve, from Torres Strait, by Melvill 

 & Stariden.§ These authors have stated|| that ^'■M.i^Strigatella) 

 decurtata Reeve = J/, scutulata Lam," 



In the first place, it may be remarked that scutidata dates 

 back to Gmelin; the shell was not known to Lamarck. Secondly,. 

 it is not obvious why the younger name of Reeve was used in 

 preference to the older. Thirdly, Reeve's figure (Mitra, f. 154) of 

 M, decurtata is unlike that of ChemnitzU on which scutidata was 

 based. An example of M. scutidata taken by Dr. Finckh, on 

 Lizard Island, a short distance from the Hope Islands, shows it 

 to occur on the coast, and I will therefore assume that this it is 

 which Melvill and Standen identified from Haddon's Collection, 



* Lamarck, Anim. s. vert. vii. 1822, p. 308. 



t Deshayes, Anim. s. vert. (2), x. 1844, p. 316. 



% Melvill & Standen, Journ. Linn. Soc, Zool. xxvii. 1899, p. 158. 



§ Melvill & Standen, op. cit. p. 158. 



fl Melvill & Standen, Journ. of Conch, viii. 1895, p.lOl. 



H Conch. Cab. x. P1.151, f.1428-9. 



