DESCRIPTIONS of some NEW or NOTEWORTHY 

 SHELLS IN TUB AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



By Charles Hedlky, Assistant Curator. 



(Plates xl.-xlv.) 



NucuLA SUPERBA, Hedhy. 



(Plate xl., figs. 1, 2). 



Nucula superha, Hedley, Austr. Mus. Mem. iv., 1902, p. 292. 



In treating of N^icula ohliqua, Lamarck, I suggested that 

 whereas the type of that species had a smooth inner margin to 

 the valve and was a native of Tasmania, the name had been in 

 error applied to a much larger shell from tropical Queensland 

 with an inner margin microscopically crenulated and with long 

 rake-like teeth. For this Queensland form I proposed the name 

 of Nucula sicperba. 



The size and habitat of Niicula loringi, Adams and Angas^» 

 correspond to that of N. superha, but their phrase " margine 

 intus simplice," is inconsistent. The crenulation of the inner 

 margin of N. superha is only visible on good specimens and 

 under a lens. But had it been overlooked by the authors, Mr» 

 E. A. Smith would have referred to N. loringi in discussing the 

 large Queensland Nucula^. 



Hah. — The exami)le figured is 19 mm. long, 15 mm. high, the 

 single valve 4 mm. deep ; it was taken by Mr. A. U. Henn in 

 10| fathoms near Bow Reef off Cape Sidniouth, North Queens- 

 land. I have obtained the species in 15 fathoms off the Paln> 

 Islands, in 5-10 fathoms Hope Islands, and in 4-14 fathoms- 

 Albany Passage, Queensland. 



1 Adams and Angas— Proc. Zool. Soc, 1863(1864), p. 427; Cooke- 

 Cambridge Natural History, MoHusca, 1895, p. 273, tig. 189A. 



2 Smith— Chall.lRep., Zool., xiii., 1885, p. 225. 



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