SuTEK. — On N.Z. Land and Fresh-water Shells. 89 



Patula comiculum, Eeeve, var. Diaciilata, u. var. 



Shell agrees iu almost every respect with the type of the 

 species, but the white epidermis is adorned with rufous radiate 

 streaks at very irregular distances and from narrow to broad. 

 There are about 50 ribs in the tenth of an inch (20 per mm.), 

 whilst the species, according to Professor Hutton, has only 

 40 ; but I do not think this to be of much value for distin- 

 guishing the variety. According to my observations Pat. cor- 

 niculum varies considerably in the number of the ribs in 

 different localities. I collected specimens in the Forty-mile 

 Bush with about 50 ribs in the tenth of an inch, and near 

 Wellington with less than 40. 



Diameter, 0-llin. (2-75mm.) ; height, 0-06in. (l-5mm.). 



Hah. Amongst decaying leaves in the subalpine bush ; 

 very scarce. South Island : Foot of Sealy Eange, Hooker 

 Valley. (H. S.) 



Animal unknown. 



Pitys cryptobidens, n. sp. Plate, XVII., fig. 7, a, h, c, M, N. 



Shell very minute, discoidal, umbilicated, cinereous, not 

 sliining, very fragile, subtransparent, with very fine and ex- 

 tremely close-set ribs, which are slightly bent forwards, but 

 almost straight on the surface, and rather sinuated at the 

 periphery, about 85 to 90 in the tenth of an inch (35 per mm.). 

 Spire flat. Whorls 4^-, narrow, rounded, regularly increasing, 

 the last not descending. Suture deep. Aperture rotundly 

 lunate, subvertical, slightly excavated by the penultimate 

 whorl. Peristome acute, somewhat flattened at the base, the 

 upper margin advancing. Interior of the aperture with two 

 teeth. There is a callosity on the basal margin, from which to 

 the left rises a stout conical tooth ; another tooth of the same 

 shape is near the middle of the parietal wall. Both teeth are 

 at some distance from the margin. Columellar margin short, 

 arcuated, slightly reflected. Umbilicus broad, perspective, 

 showing all the whorls, about one-third of the diameter. 



Diameter, 0-07in. (l-75mra.) ; height, 0-03in. (0-75mm.). 



Hah. Amongst mould in the subalpine bush ; very scarce 

 (three specimens found only !). South Island: White Horse 

 Hill, Hooker Valley. (H. S.) 



Animal. — As I had only three specimens, I would not sacri- 

 fice more than one for preparing the jaw and radula. As the 

 animals were dried up iu tlieir shells this proved to be a most 

 diflicult task, considering tlie minitteness of the objects. The 

 animal was soaked for a long time in water, then in glycerine, 

 and repeatedly treated with caustic potash, but it was im- 

 possible to prepare the radula iu a perfectly good condition, 

 and, owing to the great brittleness, I dared hardlv touch it 



