Gcjius Cyprcea. 199- 



first known specimen having been sold by Mr. Humphrey 

 to Lord Valentia,a patron of science in the last century, is even 

 more extraordinary a shell than the last. Figured by Perry^ 

 Conch., pi. xxiii., f. 2 ; by Sowerby, Thes. Conch., pi. i., f. 1,2; 

 and by Reeve, Conch. Icon. pi. vi., f. 20. Its length is very 

 nearly four inches. It is yellowish, tinged with purplish rose, 

 painted over the dorsal surface with yellowish brown mark- 

 ings, clouded on each side with a large darker blotch, at each 

 extremity there are three rows of brown lines, sides with 

 blue and brown spots. Base white, teeth also shining white. 



Recent discoveries have resulted in five specimens, all 

 exactly similar, in addition to the original shell in the 

 National Collection. These six are disposed as follows : — 



2 in the National Collection, South Kensington. 



I in Coll. Zool. Soc, Amsterdam. 



I in Coll. Miss Saul, Bow Lodge, London, N. 



I in Coll. Dr. Cox, Sydney, N. S.W. Dredged off New 

 Guinea Coast. 



I in Coll. — uncertain. 



The original specimen was called the " Brindled Cowry 

 of the Persian Gulf," in old Humphrey's handwriting, but 

 no other specimens have been known to come from that 

 region, I believe. Mr. Perry mentions Amboyna, but that 

 place must always be taken with some reserve, being a 

 trading centre where such things are imported from a 

 distance. 



C. guttata (Gray). — This shell evidently belongs to the 

 Lamarkii and erosa section of Cypraea, and yet there are 



shells were delineated and described for the first time. Unfortunately he does 

 not appear to have taken the trouble to consult previous authors, hence his 

 writings abound with duplicate names, glaring errors, description of young 

 shells as separate species, and the like. He has fallen under the lash of subse- 

 quent writers, especially Messrs. Sowerby and Reeve, who ignore all his descrip- 

 tions, but in justice to him and to the law of priority, where his species can be 

 deciphered, many of the paintings being very fanciful, it is only right to attach 

 his names — C. primeps (Gray.), nebidosa (Kien.), titrdus (Lamk.), and 

 melanostoma (Leathes), thus become Vaiejiiia, Siirinai/iensis, ovata, and came/o- 

 pardalis (all of Perry). 



