200 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. m 



varix. Aperture broadly fusiform, pointed above, terminating below 

 into a short broad canal. Outer lip evenly arcuate, internally 

 thickened, the thickening beset with short denticles decreasing 

 anteriorly in size. Parietal wall and columella covered with a smooth 

 callus. Anterior canal short, somewhat recurved, siphonal fasciole 

 indistinct. 



The type, U.S.N.M. No. 516493, was dredged by Dr. Paul Bartsch 

 off the Tortugas, Fla. It measures : Height, 54.5 mm. ; breadth, 22.3 

 mm. ; height of aperture, 26 mm. 



In our collection are three other specimens collected in 75-100 

 fathoms from south of Ke3' West, off Sand Key. 



The only other species of this genus is that described as Metula 

 agassizi Clench and Aguayo (Mem. Soc. Cubana Hist. Nat., vol. 15, 

 pp. 179-180, 1941) from off the north coast of Cuba, from which it 

 differs in being stouter, not basally attenuated and in being externally 

 colored, not white. Metula fusiformis Clench and Aguayo (loc. cit.) , 

 with its different nuclear characters, belongs to another genus. 



Genus PUSIA Swainson, 1840 



PUSIA HENDERSONI, new species 



Plate 20, Figure 12 



Shell of medium size, broadly fusiform, rather stout. Nucleus 

 narrowly conical, consisting of 4rAy» whorls, which are straight - 

 sided, smooth, glossy, pale fuscous to straw yellow. Postnuclear 

 whorls (about 7 in the type) convex, sculptured with strong axial 

 ribs, and low, subobsolete spiral ridges. Basically the coloration 

 consists of a narrow sul peripheral band of white, above which the 

 whorls are usually pale yellowish white or occasionally darker; below 

 the subperipheral band the whorls are fuscous to vinaceous-brown. 

 The columella bears four plaits, which increase in strength toward 

 the uppermost one. These plaits are continued externally as spiral 

 cords on the moderated long anterior canal. Outer lip simple, 

 internally lirale deep within the aperture. 



The type, U.S.N.M. No. 414359, measures: Height, 14.8 mm.; 

 breadth, 6.4 mm. It was dredged in 30 fathoms off Bears Cut, Miami, 

 Fla. There are numerous other lots in the collection from Miami 

 to Sand Key, near Key West, Fla. 



This species varies slightly in coloration as mentioned above and 

 in the strength of the spiral sculpture; it may also be more slender. 



It is closest to Pusia cubana Aguayo and Render, but the whorls are 

 more convex and the spire is more elongate and straight-sided ; P. 

 cubana is strictly bicolored and there is never a subperipheral band 

 noticeable. 



