134 



HELCIONISCUS. 



A magnificent species, the handsomest of the Japanese limpets. 

 The rays of the outside are generally dull red, but sometimes are 

 brown or dull black. Between them the surface is normally of a 

 peculiar light blue tint. In some specimens (pi. 13, figs. 48, 49), 

 there are numerous fine, close waved concentric reddish lines, and 

 these shells generally show a peculiar mottled pattern inside. The 

 spatula is normally orange-red, more or less veined with black, but 

 the black sometimes predominates. There is, in all the specimens 

 I have seen, a light or white tract on the forward part of the spatula. 



My description is drawn from specimens kindly furnished me by 

 Mr. Frederick Stearns. 



Var. DiVERGENS Pilsbry. PI. 73, figs. 81, 82, 83, 84. 



A Helcioniscus between nigrolineata and toreuma. It is rather 

 thick and solid, at least as thick as nigrolineata. Surface having a 

 distinct sculpture of subgranose, crowded unequal radiating strise. 

 Apex at the front fourth. Color purplish-brown, having rays of 

 greenish-white, of which nine extend to the margin. 



Interior dark, leaden, with silvery reflections, showing the white 

 rays. Spatula opaque white in front, leaden-brown behind. 



Length 42 i, breadth 32, alt. 8^ mill. 



Enoshima, Japan. 



Fig. 84 represents the shell as it appears when held between the 

 eye and a strong light. The color-pattern, otherwise obscure, is 

 thus distinctly seen. 



H. AMussiTATUs Reeve. PI. 14, figs. 75-79 ; pi. 68, figs. 11, 12, 13. 



Shell thin but rather solid, ovate, conical ; apex in front of the 

 middle ; slopes nearly straight. Surface sculjDtured with fine, close, 

 regularly and closely beaded radiating riblets or stride. Light yel- 

 lowish-brown, with inconspicuous darker rays, usually 11 in num- 

 ber, and sometimes speckled with reddish and opaque white, or 

 mottled with purplish. 



Interior bluish-silvery, iridescent, conspicuously finely crenulated 

 toward the border ; central area not distinctly outlined, whitish or 

 dull brown. Length 44, breadth 36, alt. 12i mill. 



Bonin Is. and Japan to Philippines. 



P. atmissitata RvE., Conch. Icon. f. 83. — Schrenck, Reis. und 

 Forsch. im Amurl. ii, p. 30, t. 14, f. 4, 5. — Lischke, Jap. Meeres- 

 Conch. i, p. 109; ii, p. 100, t. 6, f. 7-11.— Dkr., Ind. Moll. Mar. 



