462 FUNAFUTI ATOLL. 
NASSA SEMITEXTA, Sp. nov. 
(Fig. 37). 
‘ Shell broadly ovate, small, strong, opaque, 
white. Whorls five, of which two are apical 
and smooth. Remainder sculptured by 
small, regularly spaced, longitudinal ribs; 
on the last whorl these number twenty- 
three and vanish below the periphery. 
Similar spiral ribs, crossing the longitudi- 
nals, lattice the upper whorls and the 
upper third of the last whorl; on the 
\\ penultimate there are six of these, and on 
the last whorl about twenty-five, which 
y are strong and widely spaced on the peri- 
phery, weak and crowded anteriorly. <A 
deep and narrow groove follows the suture. 
Aperture oblique, oval, fortified without 
by a thick and prominent varix, which is 
crossed by the spiral sculpture ; columella 
arched, spreading a heavy sheet of callus, anteriorly incurved and 
terminating in a rounded knob; canal open, short, in section 
C-shaped. Length 6, breadth 44 mm. 
A rather worn specimen was found on the lagoon beach by 
myself, and another was taken by Mr. G. Sweet. 
This species is referred to Vassa for the unsatisfactory reason 
that I do not know where else to locate it, and yet the material 
before me is hardly sufficient foundation for the erection of a new 
genus. <A tubercle near the posterior angle of the aperture is 
characteristic of Massa, but absent here; while the channelled 
suture and heavy varix developed here may not be matched in 
Nassa. Indeed, though the contour and anterior notch repel the 
idea, some aspects of this shell suggest Rissoina. ‘Till further 
data, and the soft parts arrive, the true systematic position of 
this shell must, I think, remain in suspense. 
NASSA GRANIFERA, Kvener. 
Tryon, Man. Conch., iv., 1882, p. 26, pl. viii., figs. 39 — 41. 
Mr. G.Sweet collected one specimen. Melvill and Standen report 
this from the Loyalty, and the Museum contains it from the New 
Hebrides. 
CoLUMBELLA VARIANS, Sowerby. 
Tryon,.Man. Conch., v., 1883, p..110, pl. xlv., figs. 1, 2, 97 — 100; 
pl. xlvi., figs. 3-6. 
Common alive in the lagoon of Funafuti. 
Tryon mentions it from New Guinea, Fiji, Hawaii, and Gala- 
pagos. In this Museum it is shown from Niue, Baker’s Island and 
New Caledonia. 
