HARPA. 



Plate III. 



Species 6. (Fig. a and b, Mus. Cuming.) 



Harpa minor. Harp, testd ovato-oblongd, grised, ma- 

 cules fuscis et albis, areuatim articulatis, vivide pictd; 

 costis angustis, subdistantibus, nigro-linealis, lineis 

 capillaribus geminatis ; spird exsertiusculd. 



The lesser Harp. Shell ovately oblong, grey, vividly 

 painted with curved, articulated, brown and white 

 spots ; ribs narrow, rather distant, crossed with 

 black hair-like lines ranging in pairs ; spire rather 

 exserted. 



Rumphius, Mus., pi. 32. f. M. 



Lamarck, Anim. sans vert., vol. vii. p. 257. 



Hab. Philippine, Society Islands, &c. (found under stones 

 at low water) ; Cuming. 



This is a very peculiar species, both as regards form 

 and colour, although the painting of articulated curved 

 spots is very similar to that in the Harpa nobilis. There 

 is generally a single dark brown spot on the enamel 

 surface of the columella. 



Species 7. (Fig. a, d and e, Mus. Townley ; Fig. b and c, 

 Mus. Burt. 



Variety a. (Fig. Id.) 



Harpa conoidalis. Harp, testd ovato-conoidali, sub- 

 ventricosd ; anfractibus angustis, rotundatis, subdis- 

 tantibus, carneolato-tinctis, interstitiis lineis arcuatis, 

 pallidi'fuseis, obscure piclis ; spird exsertiusculd. 



The conoidical Harp. Shell ovately conoidical, rather 

 ventricose ; whorls narrow, rounded, rather distant, 

 flesh-tinted, interstices rather obscurely and irre- 

 gularly painted with faint festooned brown lines ; 

 spire rather exserted. 



Lamarck, Anim. sans vert., vol. vii. p. 255. 

 Harpa ventricosa, var., Deshayes. 



Hab. Ceylon (found in mud in deep water). 



The Harpa conoidalis is by far the most variable of 

 the species, and it is extremely difficult to arrange any 

 scale of varieties likely to remain conventional ; I have 

 however distributed the numerous specimens under exa- 



mination into four divisions. The first division, Variety 

 a, the type of the species, is characterized by the sim- 

 plicity and plainness of the ribs, both in respect to form 

 and colour, and the festooned pattern of the interstices 

 is very indistinctly portrayed. 



Variety /3. (Fig. 7 b.) 



Testa costis interstitiisque maculis carneolato-roseis varie- 

 gatis. 



Shell with the ribs and interstices variegated with di- 

 stinct spots of fleshy rose. 



This variety is chiefly remarkable for the distinctness 

 of the spots, which are of a particularly delicate rose- 

 tint. A few scattered dark lines begin to appear on the 

 ribs. 



Variety y. (Fig. 7 a.) 



Testa ferrugineo-fusco tincta; costis latioribus, lineis ni- 

 gris capillaribus sparsis ornatis, interstitiorum lineis 

 arcuatis vivide pictis. 



Shell stained with rich chocolate or rusty brown ; ribs 

 wider, ornamented with scattered black hair-like 

 lines, the festooned lines of the interstices broadly 

 and vividly painted. 



The rich chocolate-brown colouring of this variety 

 renders it perhaps the most distinct and best charac- 

 terized of the series ; the painted festoons between the 

 ribs are especially rich, and there is an admirable re- 

 gularity in their arrangement. 



Variety 8. (Fig. 7 c and e.) 



Testa carneolato-fusca ; costis subirregularibus, lineis ni- 

 gris capillaribus, undulatis, fasciculatis, ornatis. 



Shell fleshy brown ; ribs rather irregular, ornamented 

 with finely waved black hair-like lines separated in 

 groups of three or four together. 



We have an approach in this beautiful variety to Va- 

 riety /3 of the Harpa articularis, though no two species 

 are more distinct compared by their typical varieties. 

 This is the closest affinity that seems to exist between 

 any two species of the genus. 



October 1843. 



