60 BATHTTOMA. 



the Mediterranean area. Comparing the shell with that of 

 B. catapJiracta of the Upper Tertiary of Italy, the latter will be 

 found to be relatively more elongate and not so rich in ornament, 

 whilst the body-whorl is, in the majority of specimens, more 

 tumid. The aperture of the Australian shell is somewhat 

 narrower. But it is unquestionably a near ally of the European 

 species mentioned ; and bearing in mind the great range of varia- 

 tion in both shells, it would even be desirable on many grounds 

 to unite the two species. 



The living B. atractoides, Watson, of the Philippines is, perhaps, 

 synonymous in its general characters, though in that case the 

 name proposed by Mr. "Watson would take precedence. The 

 present writer hesitates to deal with the matter, however, as only 

 one specimen of B. atractoides is at his disposal, and that has 

 a much broader, though shallower sinus than any of the fossil 

 examples here quoted. This species may also be compared with 

 B. viabrunnea, Dall (sp.), living in the West Indies. 



Dimensions. — Length 37 mm.; breadth 16 mm.; length of 

 aperture 19 mm. 



Form, and Loc. — Eocene : Victoria and South Australia. 



48052. Several specimens, from Hobson's Bay. Purchased. 



70422. Several specimens, from Meribee river. Purchased. 



73224. Four examples, from Brighton. Purchased. 



G. 4234. Several specimens, from Muddy Creek. 



Presented hy John Pennant, Esq^. 



G. 5500 and G. 5503. Two specimens, from Muddy Creek. 



Purchased. 



G. 9134. One specimen, from Murray river, near Adelaide. 



Presented hj William Evans, Esq. 



G. 9330. Three examples, from Mornington. Purchased. 



Bathytoma decomposita, Tate (sp.). 



1893. Bolichoioma decomposita, Tate and Dennant, Trans. Eoy. Soc. South 



Aust. vol. svii. pt. 1, p. 221 (list name). 



1894. Genotia decomposita, Tate, Journ. Eoy. Soc. N.S.W. vol. xxvii. 



p. 175, pi. X. fig. 7c. 



Protoconch similar to that of the last-named species. The 

 transverse ornament is not of such a rugged character as in 



