64 TELEOCHILUS. 



TELEOCHILUS/ nov. gen. 



Protoconch (Plate III. Figs. I2c-d) large, from one to one and 

 a half depressed turns, spirally and longitudinally striated from 

 the initial portion onwards, the spiral striae developing into well- 

 defined sulcations as the shell passes from the brephic to the neanic 

 stages of growth. Shell as a whole elongate, the aperture being 

 much longer relatively than, the spire ; whorls slightly convex 

 and spirally sulcated throughout, lines of growth well marked ; 

 suture typically canaliculate ; aperture with thin, erect, outer 

 margin, constricted posteriorly, and broad towards the anterior ; 

 columella plain, with a thin deposit of callus through which 

 the sulci appear. 



It is difficult to satisfactorily classify this genus. By its general' 

 configuration it has considerable analogy with Daphnella ; but 

 may be easily differentiated by the unique characteristics of the 

 protoconch, and the absence of a posterior sinus. The last- 

 mentioned circumstance might be taken advantage of to remove 

 Teleochilus from the Pleueotomii)^, did we not know that the 

 possession of a sinus is not an absolutely necessary qualification 

 for inclusion in that family. 



In some respects Teleochilus recalls certain forms of Mitra, but 

 it has no columellar plications, nor even the semblance of a fold ; 

 whilst its protoconch is distinctive. At the same time, it approaches 

 the genus Dilaphus, Philippi, which, although deprived of folds 

 on the pillar, is classified with the Mitrid^, chiefly on anatomical 

 grounds. Dihnphus differs only from Mitroidea, Pease, by the 

 absence of plaits. The soft parts of the animal were first described 

 by Mr. A. Garrett,^ who was unable to detect any difference 

 between them and those of Cylmdra, Schumacher. Unfortunately, 

 it is not possible to ascertain the relationships of Teleochilus in the 

 same manner, as its soft parts are denied to us; on conchological 

 considerations alone it is included in Plettrotomid^, and may 

 be assigned a position in the neighbourhood of Daphnella. 



Type. — Daphnella gracillima, Tenison- Woods. 



1 t6'a.eios ' complete ' ; x*"^"^ ' hp-' 

 = Proc. Zool. Soc. 1872, p. 843. 



