Molliisca from the Bokkeveld Beds. 257 



figured by him in order to show the characters of the hinge (o;;. cit, 

 pi. xxvii., fig. 4), to the same species as that illustrated by the first 

 figure (fig. 2). The latter is also from a different locality. 



Nuculites smitJti, Clarke/'^ is closely allied to the typical form of 

 N. africanus. 



Localities.— {No. 104) Ezel Pontein, Ceres; Gydo Pass (type, 

 op cit., fig. 2); Cederberg (type, 0j9. cit., fig. 4). 



NUCULITES BEANNEEI, Clarke. 



(PI. XXXL, figs. 8, 8a). 



1899. Nuculites Branneri, Clarke, Palseoz. Faunas of Para, Brazil 

 (Archiv. Mus. Nac. Eio de Janeiro, vol. 10, 1899), 

 English edit. (1900), p. 73, pi. viii., figs. 6-8. 



There are two nearly perfect casts (Nos. 92, 97) and one dis- 

 torted one (No. 94) of a species of Nuculites which may without 

 much hesitation be referred to Clarke's species N. branneri 

 from the Devonian of Brazil. The description of this species is 

 given by its author as follows : " Shell of comparatively large size, 

 subelliptical in outline. Beaks situated at the anterior one-third 

 of the transverse diameter, full, rounded, incurved and projecting 

 above the hinge. Except for the interruption on the dorsal line, 

 made by the beaks, the marginal curve is regular, the anterior 

 extremital curve being narrower than the posterior. The surface is 

 quite convex, the greatest depth being attained behind the centre of 

 the valve in the umbonal region. From this point the slope 

 ventrally and posteriorly is quite gradual, more abrupt anteriorly and 

 in the dorso-lateral region. There is a faint umbonal ridge, not 

 discernible on all the examples, but when well defined, making a 

 slight angularity in the posterior marginal outline. A cardinal ridge 

 is also apparent close to the umbo. 



" The clavicular ridge is long, extending fully two-thirds of the 

 height of the valves, and is curved forward toward its lower end. 



" Surface marked by fine concentric striie. 



^^ Dimensions. — The best preserved example, a left valve, measures : 

 length 28 mm. ; transverse diameter 35 mm. ; anterior vertical 23 mm. ; 

 posterior vertical 19 mm." 



The foregoing description applies to our specimens, but the 



* Clarke, i>p. cit.. p. 71. pi. viii., fig. 5; Katzer, op. cit., p. 205, t. xiii.. 



