SCAPHELLA. 115 



1886. Voliita {AlcitJioe) gracilis, "Watson, Yoy. " Challenger," Zool. vol. xv. 



(Gasteropoda), p. 258. 

 1893. Valuta gracilis, Hutton, Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Macleay ileiii. Vol. p. 40. 



This is a close ally of S. 2^acijica, of -wliicli it has been regarded 

 as a mere variation in form by some authors. It is usually 

 much smaller and more ventricose than that species, is plicated 

 to a later stage of growth, the peripheral tubercles when present 

 being comparatively inconspicuous. Outer margin of the aperture 

 usually thickened and not reflected, inner margin covered by a 

 thin deposit of callus ; columella sinuous, slightly produced in 

 front, and furnished with four plications ; anterior channel broad 

 and rather deep. 



Di))i ens ions. — Length 50 mm.; breadth 19"5mm. ; length of 

 aperture 31"5mm. 



Form, and Zoc. — Miocene and Pliocene : New Zealand. 



G. 9510. Several specimens exhibiting variations in form of 

 growth ; from ^N'anganui. Sir James Hector Coll. 



G. 9518. Example having an elongate spire and corrugated 

 columella ; from Parimoa, near Waitaki. JF. £. I). Mantell Coll. 



G. 9519. Similar, but with larger nodulations at the periphery 

 of the body-whorl ; from Parimoa. 



Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geolorjij. 



Subgenus EOPSEPHIA, Fischer {em.). 

 [Manuel Conchyl. 1883, p. 607.] 



Shell long, fusiform ; ornamented by longitudinal ribs commonly 

 spinose at the periphery of the whorls; typically the columella 

 has seven plications, the anterior being the more salient. So far, 

 it agrees in general with the subgenus Pseph^a, Crosse ' (type 

 Voluta concinna, Broderip) ; but the protoconch is very distinctive. 

 The latter is of the '^csqiheWoiA-Caricella type, somewhat inflated 

 and rising to a sharp point, laterally situated. 



The Australian species here included in this subgenus differ 

 from typical forms of Eopsephia in regard to the number and 

 disposition of the columellar plications, and the shells as a whole 



' Journ. do Concliyl. 3' ser. t. si. 1871, p. 302. 



