Conchological Memoranda. No. VIII. 



October 14, 1871. 



1)f.8Ci:ii'ti<)X uf a New Speciks of Vekoxicella fuom Nicaragua. 



By liOBERT E. C Stearns. 



Veronicella, Blaiiuilk'. Vaginulus, Feru.'ssae. 



Veronlcella olivaceus : Stearns. 



Animal elongated oval, slui^-shaped, side.s moderately curved, ends ob- 

 tusely rounded; substance (in alcohol) coi'iaceous, back convex and granu- 

 lously rugose; color olive beneath, darker olive above; length of body 

 nearly four times its width; foot linear, not (]uite as long as, and one third 

 the width of, the body; eye peduncles sh(jrt, annulated, with rather obscure 

 stumpy (bifurcate?) tentacles below. 



Length of largest specimen 1.74 inches. Breadth of largest specimen 

 ..")1 inch. 



Habitat — Nicaragua (Occidental department), where several specimens 

 were collected In- Mr. J. A. McNiel. 



My collection contains three specimens, and the Museum of the Peabody 

 Academy of Science, at Salem, Mass., numerous examples of this species. 

 In connection with the above measurements, it shoiJd be borne in mind 

 that the contraction caused by the alcohol, m iterially aff'ects the propor- 

 tions; the animal, when alive, is undoubtedly very much longer, and some- 

 what broader, tiian above stated. 



This species is found also in the Upper Californian province, a .speci- 

 men having been collected by me near Lobitos, in the year 186G. 



The few species known inhabit tropical or semitropical climates; the 

 form above described is quite distinct from T. F/oridtiiid, whicli is also 

 found in Nicaragua (Eastern department), where it was collected " Under 

 stones, Javate, Chontales; probably the same species, but twice the size of 

 Toro Rapids." Vide paper " On the Land and Fresli Water Shells ni 

 Nicaragua, by Ralph Tate"; in American Journal of Conchology, Vol. V, 

 pp. 151-1 G2. The "Toro Rapids" specimens of Mr. Tate's collection, 

 possibly belong to the species herein described, but it is hardly probable 

 that the well marked diiferences between the latter and V. Floritinivi 

 could have escaped detection. 



