68 " ENDEAVOUR " SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



possessing a much broader unglazed median area, a thinner 

 deposit of upper callus and a broader contour. Nearest to the 

 novelty is A. australis, but that New Zealand shell is far 

 smaller, comparatively broader and more solid and coloured 

 slate and brown. A. montrouzieri, Souverbie, 1 from New 

 Caledonia is smallei*, comparatively more slender and of paler 

 colour. The relations of this group are rather with the dead 

 than with the living, for it was represented in the Australian 

 Tertiary by such fossils as, A. hebera, Hutton, A. pseudaustralis, 

 Tate, A. lanceolaia, Tate, A. ligata, Tate, A. papillata, Tate. 

 and A. semilcevis, Ten. Woods. 



The new species may be characterised as follows : — 



Shell large, solid, ovate-fusiform, whorls probably eight. 

 Colour : — the central area of the body whorl is orange, bounded 

 above and below by a white spiral line, beneath the lower one is 

 a narrow belt of brilliant cadmium orange, followed by pure 

 white on the base and pillar. Above the upper white spiral is a 

 broad space of cadmium orange shading off into buff on the 

 upper part of the spire. Sculpture : — the central zone of the 

 body whorl is unglazed, and is bounded by an incised spiral line 

 above and below, anterior to this is a narrow belt of callus 

 limited by another incised line, the latter issuing at the centre of 

 the notch. Above the unglazed central zone there is a broad and 

 thick deposit which envelopes the spire, concealing the sutures. 

 and from which the apical whorl alone projects. Aperture 

 narrow, ovate, effuse anteriorly, the posterior angle blocked by a 

 pad of callus, from which a thin glaze spreads over the inner lip. 

 Columella grooved and twisted. Canal short and broad. No 

 furrow within, or spur upon the lip. Length, 45 mm., breadth, 

 19 mm. 



Hub. Great Australian Bight, west of Eucla, 75 to 14U 

 fathoms. 



Genus Altivasum, gen. nor. 



A new genus of the family Turbinellida?, distinguished by 

 elevate spire, hollow axis, and three plaits on the lower columella. 

 Type :—Latiru8 aurantiacm, Verco. 



The affinities of the new genus are with Vasum and in that 

 genus it is more like the tall V. ceramicum than the typical 

 short spired V. turbinellum or l*. muricatvm. But from either 

 form the greater number of whorls, the smaller proportion of 

 the body whorl, the perforation and especially the reduction and 



1 Souverbie— J ourn. de Conch., viii., 1860, pp. 207, N24. pi. xi.. fig. 3. 



