2 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 98 



It is axially marked by retractively curved brown streaks, which may 

 be straight, curved, or zigzag. Anterior to the shoulder there is a broad 

 band of ochraceous buff. This band covers about one-fifth of the 

 distance between the shoulder and the tip of the columella anterior to 

 the shoulder. It is separated by a moderately broad white zone from 

 another broad band of the same color and width as that at the shoulder, 

 which in turn is followed by a band about two-thirds as wide as the 

 last mentioned of flesh color. The rest of the side grades from a little 

 lighter than the two dark bands just mentioned to flesh color with an 

 ochraceous flush. In addition to these major spiral dispositions of 

 color the shell is marked by interrupted spiral bands of dark chestnut 

 brown. The elements composing these vary considerably in size, and 

 are best visualized by consulting our figure. Those covering the 

 dark band immediately below the shoulder are heavier and are con- 

 tinuous with the dark axial zones on the spire and are almost confluent 

 axially. The interior of the aperture is flesh-colored with a decidedly 

 pinkish tinge, the dark pinkish flush coinciding with the darker bands. 

 The type, U.S.N.M. no. 472849, has 13 whorls and measures: 

 Length, 100 mm; greater diameter, 47.5 mm. It was collected on a 

 reef at Tarpon Springs, Fla. A paratype is in the collection of 

 Mrs. Helen Vatikiotis. It is named for Mr. Vatikiotis, its discoverer. 



FUSINUS HELENAE, n. sp. 

 Plate 1, figs. 4-5 



Shell moderately large, fusiform, with the basal portion of the 

 shell only a bit shorter than the length of the spire. The tip and early 

 postnuclear whorls are pale chestnut brown, the rest of the shell is 

 flesh-colored with the axial ribs rust-stained. The base and columellar 

 portion also have rusty staining. Nuclear whorls a little more than 2. 

 the first 1.5 turns smooth, inflated, strongly rounded, the succeeding 

 part marked by almost vertical axial ribs. The early postnuclear 

 whorls are marked by strong, low, broad axial ribs which are sepa- 

 rated by equally impressed spaces of about the same width. Of these 

 ribs, about 10 occur upon each of the first 5 turns, after which they 

 become less conspicuous and less regular and quite inconspicuous on 

 the last whorl. In addition to these, the whorls are marked by spiral 

 cords, of which 5 are present on the first 3 postnuclear turns, after 

 which they increase by intercalation, 25 varying in strength from mere 

 threads to rather strong keels being present between summit and 

 periphery on the last turn. Base short, strongly rounded. Columella 



