BY C. HEDLEY. 99 



There are several other Linnean specific names which concern 

 the Australian student, such as ianthina, delpliinula and limn, 

 which Lamarckian usage has banished from their rightful place. 



The nepionic shell of M. aruanus has a literature of its own. 

 Tryon described it (Manual Conch, ix. p. 142, pi. xxvi. fig. 1G) 

 as Cerithium brazieri. Pilsbry followed (Nautilus, viii. June, 

 1894, p. 17) by erecting for its reception a new genus Perostylus 

 and adding a supposed second species P. fordianus. Tryon's 

 error was recognised by Tate, who showed in these Proceedings 

 (Second Series, viii. 1893 [1894], p. 244) that "it is nothing 

 more than the embryo of Fitsus proboscidifertis." Pilsbry then 

 in an article entitled " Perostylus, the embryo of Megalatractus " 

 (Nautilus, viii. p. 67) at once withdrew his genus and species. 



Meyalatractus was proposed as a subgenus for this species by 

 Fischer (Manual, 1884, p. 623); Pilsbry remarks that its use as 

 a full genus is justified by the remarkable apex. 



Melvill and Standen mention (Journ. Linn. Soc. Zool. xxvii. 

 1899, p. 158) " a mass of nidamental capsules" as being produced 

 by this mollusc. Further information on this subject would be 

 acceptable. 



As little has appeared in literature about the size of this 

 gigantic shell, it may not be amiss to say that a specimen now in 

 the collection of my friend, Mr. P. G. Black, though imperfect at 

 both extremities, still measures 22 inches in length and 9^ in 

 breadth. Brazier has in these Proceedings (Vol. ii., 1878, p. 368) 

 mentioned a maximum length of 24 inches. 



The Australian range of the species is from the Dampier 

 Archipelago in the north-west continuously to the Great Barrier 

 Beef in the north-east. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATES. 



Plate iii. 



Figs. 1-3. — Lodderia minima, Tenison-Woods; in different aspects. 

 Fig. 4. — Amaaropsis moerchi, Adams & Angas. 

 Fig. 5. — Menon anceps, Hedley. 



