462 MOLLUSCA FROM THE HOPE ISLANDS, N. QUEENSLAND, 



NaSSARIA MORDICA, 11. sp. 



(Plate xliv., fig.lOO.) 



Shell of medium size, very solid, biconical, false umbilicate. 

 Colour buff, the cords on the rib-summits of the periphery picked 

 out with chocolate, aperture flesh- tint. Whorls seven, and a 

 protoconch of three smooth whorls. Sculpture : seven prominent 

 oblique rounded ribs cross each whorl, and mount the spire con- 

 tinuously, the last forming a varix to the aperture. These are 

 crossed by spiral cords, about fifteen to the last and five to the 

 penultimate whorl, two or three of the peripheral cords pre- 

 dominating over the rest Across these run close fine radial 

 laminae, puckered into imbricating scales on crossing the spirals. 

 Canal open, short, recurved, the canal-tips of previous apertures 

 enclosing with a frill a false umbilicus. Aperture narrow-ova]; 

 on the right side are seven evenly spaced entering ridges which 

 penetrate a short distance only; externally they end abruptly at 

 a circumferential groove. Posteriorly the aperture ends in a 

 furrow followed by a tubercle. The upper part of the inner 

 lip is clear of obstructions, but the lower is occupied by five 

 strong and deeply penetrating spiral ridges which do not reach 

 the free edge of the columellar lip. Length 16; breadth 8 mm. 



A few specimens, from 5-10 fathoms, off the Hope Islands. 

 Mr. J. Brazier has given me specimens which he dredged, in 30 

 fathoms, off Darnley Island. 



Fusus cereus Smith, "^^ from this coast, has a general resem- 

 blance, but the columellar ridges of the novelty readily distinguish 

 it. The rather artificial character of the columella has con- 

 strained me to refer this to Nassai^ia, but I have a suspicion 

 that ultimately both Fusus i/nbricatiisj Smith, and F. cereus 

 Smith, ma}' be relegated to the neighbourhood of Thais. 



^ Smith, Zool. Coll. Alert, p.46, PI. v., f.D. 



+ Smith, Journ. Linn. Soc, Zool. xii. 1876, p. 540, PI. xxx., f.3:(?) = 

 Lataxiena lataxiena Jousseaume, Bull. See. Zool. France, viii. 1883, p. 188, 

 Pl.x., f.l. 



