22 I LAXD AND FRESHWATER 



met with in Nilyirla tsuhtta, X. tranquebnrica, and with a slight 

 slit about halfway in N. Utjulata, N. chemn, N. basileus. The peculiar 

 structure of the columellar margin is possibl}- due to this mantle- 

 lobe and the large left shell-lobe combined; the latter being tongue- 

 like and extending far back, it would be close to and play around 

 the umbilicus. 



With regard to the distribution of Sophina, it is an interesting 

 point whether it is the remnant of a genus at one period more 

 widely spread than it is at present along the narrow belt of the 

 Tenasserim coast, or whether it is of more recent and local develop- 

 ment. The former seems to me to be the most likely, although 

 there is no Indian genus at present known with which it can be 

 linked up. It is the associate, as Stoliczka points out, writing of 

 the physical features of Moulmein, of several very peculiar and 

 interesting genera, which are known now to range further than 

 when he wrote. There is a large extent of country yet to be 

 explored to the northward, and species related to Sophina may be 

 looked for on the flanks of the great gneissic backbone of the Malay 

 Peninsula, and away into the Shan country and Upper Burmah. 



It may^ even be looked for in the Nicobar Islands, for I have a 

 single specimen, which came from Mr. de RoepstorfF, which is 

 marked " Andamans or Nicobar." It is peculiarly like S. calias in 

 general colour and shape, even the columellar margin is thickened 

 and sinuate ; but being a single specimen and the actual locality 

 doubtful, this doubt may extend its true habitat to the mainland, 

 and that it found its way by exchange into the Roepstorff collection. 

 I may say, however, that when going through his shells there were 

 only two or three of doubtful authenticit5\ 



Sophina calias, Bens. (char, emend.). 



Sojyhina calias, Bs. Ann. & Mag. N^at. Hist. 1859, ser. 3, vol. iii. 

 p. 473; emend. 1860, ser. 3, vol. v. p. 26. 



Helix caliax, Pfr. Mon. Helic. vol. v. p. 112. 



Sophina calias, Stoliczka. J. A. S. B. 1871, p. 143; Clessin, Nomen. 

 Helic. 1881, p. 48 (placed between the genera Thalassia and 

 Hemipleeta). 



Original description: — '■'■ T'esta anguste umhilicaia, orhiculato- 

 (hpressa, solidinscula, oblique striatula, polita, pallide cornea ; spira 

 planata, apice salimte, ohtuso, sutura ntarginafa, canalictdata ; 

 anfractibus 5 sv.bconvexis, fsensim accrescentibus, vltimo ad ambitum 

 rotundato, subtus tonvexiusculo ; apertura lunata. obliqua, peristo- 

 niate recto, acuto, margine columellari oblique recarvatim descendente, 

 caUono, extvs crennlaio, cum basalt angulum fere rectum, arete 

 ritnatum, efformanti', ritna extremitatein carince wnbilicalis, sensim 

 spiraliter intrantis, incidente ; umlnlici jx'rspectivi pariete intus 

 horizontaliter confertim, sulcato. 



" Diam. major 9, minor 7^, axis 4 mill. 



" Habitat prope Moulmein, ad cavernas ' Farm Caves ' dictas." 



