125 
corroborate an opinion which I have some time held, that the C. ewi- 
mia was not a fossil, but carried inland by the aborigines, and fell 
from near the surface to the position in which it was said to be found. 
Vide pp. 296, 297.” 
6. On CypR#A UMBILICATA AND C. ExImMIA OF SOWERBY. 
By J. E. Gray, Esa. 
Cyprea umbilicata was described from a single specimen which 
was formerly in the Tankerville Collection and is now in the British 
Museum. From its external resemblance to some specimens of Cy- 
prea Pantherina, some peculiarities in its formation, and especially 
from certain apparent irregularities in its teeth, it has been thought 
that it might be a monstrosity or irregular growth of that species. 
The discovery of the habitat by Mr. Gunn, who has kindly sent 
two specimens of the species to Europe, has removed this impression, 
and shown that it is a distinct species ; and that what was regarded 
as the irregularities in the plaits of the front of the pillar, is in fact 
the normal form of the species. 
Such being the case shows that the species should be removed 
from the genus Cyprqa, as restricted in my monograph in the Zoo- 
logical Journal, and placed in the genus Cyprovula, first described in 
that work. 
Tbe shell, instead of having the single large plait in front of the 
inner lip separated from other plaits by a wide space, has the front 
of the imner lip covered with several oblique plaits, nearly up to the 
front edge of the notch. 
It also agrees with Cyprovula in the spire being concave or sunken, 
forming a deep umbilicus. 
Cyprea eximia, figured in Strzelecki’s ‘New South Wales and 
Van Diemen’s Land,’ is a very nearly allied species, and equally a 
Cyprovula (ewimia), It differs in the body being more globular and 
the canal longer. Both these species are to be distinguished from 
the other Cyprovule by the canal at each end of the mouths being 
more developed and produced: they also both have a somewhat an- 
gular depression across the upper part of the anterior canal, at the an- 
terior extremity of the dorsal line, evidently formed by the junction 
of the two expansions of the mantle in this part. 
The elongation of the canals, and the depression above referred to, 
are more developed in Cyprovula eximia than in Cyprovula umbilicata. 
They are, especially the latter, the giants of the genus. The original 
specimen of C. ewimia is in the cabinet of Mr. John Morris of Ken- 
sington. 
To give some idea of the extraordinary price which is now some- 
times required for shells, I may state that the second specimen of 
this Cowry, sent home by Mr. Gunn to a London collector, was 
offered by him to Miss Saul for £30, and eventually realised that 
price. 
