102 TOLUTA. 



some specimens have a spire approaching that of V. sj^inosus, 

 Lamarck, of the European Eocene, as remarked by Sir F. M'Coy ; 

 ■whilst others are conoidal and have been compared with V. athletus, 

 Solander. A strong variety of V. athletus (perhaps a distinct 

 species) found in the Sables Moyens (Upper Eocene) of Le Ruel, 

 Paris Basin, which more nearly approaches the typical V. spinosus, 

 is not unlike the Australian species now diagnosed ; but the latter 

 has not much in common with the typical V. athletus found at 

 Barton, in Hampshire, which has a more depressed (and not conical) 

 spire with enormous, obtuse spines. The columellar plaits of 

 V. strojjJiodon are four in number, sharp, of approximately equal 

 size, and oblique ; the first one anteriorly being directed so as 

 to merge into the fiat callosity bordering the deep, broad canal. 

 The disposition of these plaits alone suffices to distinguish it from 

 the European Eocene forms alluded to, which have one large 

 anterior plait or fold, with several smaller ones behind it. 



Certain forms of this variable species so closely resemble 

 V. symmetricus, Conrad, of the Eocene of Jackson, Mississippi, that 

 they are not easily separated from it at first sight. An examination 

 of the protoconch (Plate IV. Figs. Wa-h), however, soon places all 

 doubt at rest : this Australian species has a large, obtuse, turbinate, 

 spirally striated protoconch, whilst the European and American 

 species mentioned all have the sharp, small protoconch so charac- 

 teristic of Volutilithes. 



Dimensions. — Length 43 mm. ; breadth 23 mm. ; length of 

 aperture 31mm. 



Form, and Loc. — Eocene : Muddy Creek, Victoria. 



G. 4275. Three examples of the adult. 



Presented ly John Bennant, Ksq. 



G. 9350. A series illustrating stages of growth ; one specimen 

 in the ueanic stage has a perfect protoconch, obscurely tuberculated 

 towards the anterior extremity. Purchased. 



Voluta (Aulica) weldi, Tenison-Woods. 



1876. Voluta ii-eklii, Temson-"Woods, Proc. Roy. Soc. Tas. 1875, p. 24 



pi. i. ii^. 2. 

 1878. Voluta weldii, R. Etheridge, jun., Cat. Aust. Foss. p. 170. 



1888. Voluta weldii, Jolinston, Geol. Tasmariia, pi. xxx. fig. 6. 



1889. Voluta weldii, Tate, Trans. Roy. Soc. South Aust. vol. xi. pp. 134-6. 



