257 



Natica cunninghamensis, nom. mut. 



1893. Natica [Ncvcrifa] varians, Tate, Trans. Roy. Soc. South Aust. 

 vol. xvii. pt. 2, p. 322, pi. vi. figs. 2, 9 {non Dujardin). 



Shell large, solid, narrow; spire very short, body -whorl 

 enveloping, few spiral striae ; aperture oblique ; outer margin 

 oblique ; inner margin extremely callous posteriorly ; umbilicus 

 large, funiculus broad, terminating on the columella in a moderatf- 

 sized callosity, bounded posteriorly by a deep, striated sulcus, 

 anteriorly by an undulating groove. 



The specific name given by Professor Tate is now changed, as it 

 is preoccupied by Dujardin, ]V. varians being a common form in 

 the Miocene of the Touraine, and having nothing in common with 

 the Australian species. The name here proposed is derived from 

 Cunningham, in Gippsland, one of the localities where the species 

 has been found. 



The umbilicus in Neverita is practically filled, or is nearly 

 covered over, by a funicular callosity, the outside portion of which 

 is conterminous with the columellar border ; the shell, also, is 

 depressed. These characters are not possessed by N. cunningham- 

 ensis, as will be observed from what has already been said. The 

 present species does not differ essentially from Natica, sensu stricto, 

 except perhaps in having the posterior callosity, which does not 

 seem to be of much systematic value ; other species included by 

 Professor Tate in Neverita are here placed under Natica for 

 similar reasons. 



Dimensions. — Length 36 mm.; breadth 30 mm.; length of 

 aperture 25 mm. 



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



G. 4281, G. 5528. Examples of the adult. 



Presented hij John Dennant^ Esq. 



G. 9414. Examples of the neanic and ephebic stages of growtli. 



Purchased. 



Natica wintlei, Tenison- Woods. 



1876. Natica ivintlci, Tenison-Woods, Troc. Eoy. Soc. Tas. 187o, p. 23, 



pi. i. fig. 3. 

 1878. Natica wintlei, R. Etheridge, jim., Cat. Aust. Foss. p. 166. 

 1888. Natica xvintki, Johnston, Geol. Tasmania, pi. xsix. fig. 10. 



