324 WEST SOUTH AMERICAN SHELLS STEARNS. 



referred to Rapana by some writers, wliile Carpeuter, Adams, and 

 others placed it [the group] with iSiphonalia aud Tryou united it with 

 Melongena. These shells normally have an operculum like Fusus or 

 Melongena; they do not, therefore, belong with Rapana, which has a 

 purpuroid operculum. They are certainly not identical with Strcpsi- 

 dura or Siplwnalia proper. It is highly probable that they are, as sup- 

 posed by Tryon, related to Melongena. But Melongena is a very well- 

 characterized, compact grou]) of large littoral species, having much 

 such a habitat in warm regions as Purpura, which they resemble in 

 mode of life. The group in question differs from them in its regularity 

 of sculpture, absence of spines, smaller aperture in proportion to the 

 whole length, small size of the species ♦ * * and the absence of 

 the posterior sinus near the suture, which characterizes the true 

 Melongena when adult. I propose, therefore, to separate the group 

 above discriminated from Melongena, as a genus, hereafter to be 

 reduced in rank if necessary, should more exhaustive researches show 

 its relations to be tliose of a subgenus rather than a genus. The type 

 will be Solenosteira [Pyrula) anomala Eeeve, Couch. Icon., Pyrula, pi. 

 VIII, fig. 12. 1847." 



137. Cassis (Semicassis) abbreviata Lam. 



Several specimeus. 



Bahia (1) ; Manta. 



Tryou credits this form to the west coast of North America; it will 

 be seen by Jones's localities that it ranges along the South American 

 coast as well. C. B. Adams obtained it at Panama. 



138. Malea ringens Sby. 



Two small adults, one quite heavy though only 1^? inches long. 

 Manta. 



139. Oniscia tuberculosa Rve. 

 One specimen. 

 Chatham Island, Galapagos. 



140. Cypraea nigropunctata Gray. 



One beach specimen. 



Manta. 



Before doubtfully reported from Ecuador, but now confirmed. 



141. Cypraea (Arlcia) punctulata Gray, 



A single beach shell from each of the following i)laces: 



Payta; Manta. 



This species has been detected as far north as La Paz, Lower Cali- 

 fornia, and in the Gulf of California at Guaymas. Panama was the 

 most southerly point known before Dr. Jones's collection, but this car- 

 ries it farther south by about 850 miles. 





