77 



1S50. Ancillaria albisidcata, Gray, Fig. Moll. vol. iv. p. 4, pi. xix. figs. 1-3 



(«o« Sowerby). 

 1850. Ancillaria australis, Gray, id. vol. iv. p. 4, pi. xix. fig. 5. 

 1859. Ancillaria australis, Sowerby, Thes. Conch, vol. iii. p. 63, pi. ccxi. 



figs. 1, 2. 

 1864. Ancillaria australis, Reeve, Conch. Icon. vol. xv. pi. iii. figs. la-h. 

 1873. Ancillaria australis, Von Martens, Crit. List. Moll. N.Z. p. 23. 

 1873. Ancillaria [Anaulax) australis, Hutton, Cat. Marine Moll. N.Z. j). 17. 

 1873. Ancillaria australis, Hutton, Cat. Tert. Moll. N.Z. p. 6. 

 1880. Ancillaria australis, Hutton, Man. N.Z. Moll. p. 58. 

 1893. Ancillaria australis, Hutton, Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Macleay Mem. Vol. 



p. 44. 



The variable proportion of the callus on the spire, even in 

 specimens from the same locality, causes this shell to assume 

 a variety of forms. Sometimes it renders it mucronate, the callus 

 being finely granular and extending over the posterior half of the 

 columella, in which case it is impossible to observe the actual 

 shape and number of the whorls. In other specimens, owing 

 to the comparative absence of callus, the spire is almost acuminate, 

 the suture being distinctly cut in, but in any case the protoconch 

 is entirely covered up. The examples from Parimoa have the 

 greatest thickness of callus on the spire above the body-whorl, 

 and it is so disposed as to render the shell somewhat cylindrical 

 with an angulate ridge above the anterior suture. In the two 

 specimens from Glenelg river the callus is closely corrugated, 

 leading to the formation of a number of spiral ridges ; an accidental 

 mutilation of the spire of one of them reveals the protoconch, 

 which, as far as can be seen, is composed of two turns, the earlier 

 portion being very minute and the later somewhat inflated. 



The denticle on the outer margin of the aperture is practically 

 a prolongation of a deeply-cut sulcus ; the anterior canal is broad 

 and deep ; columella excavated and carrying several small plications 

 anteriorly. In well-preserved specimens with but little callus, 

 what is commonly termed the " varnished zone " of the body-whorl 

 is light-brown in colour, in front of which is a band of the same 

 tint, but darker. The whorl is finely striated, both longitudinally 

 and spirally. 



Compared with the older A. pseudaustralis, the latter is more 

 elongate, and its spire is more acuminate. Living examples of 

 the species are found in Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania. 

 Some of the specimens of A. australis in the Museum very closely 



