MOLLUSCA OF INDIA. 



:v3i 



The radula (PI. CL. figs. 5 a, 5 b) has a formula of 12 to 14, 1, 

 12 to 14. The central tooth has minute basal cusps on both sides ; 

 the admedian are all of the same shape on broad plates, a simple 

 tooth with a small outer basal one gradually becoming smaller 

 towards the margin; the last four or five are very minute and 

 undefined, the plates not being visibly separated, so that the minute 

 teeth ai)pear to rise from a continuous narrow plate fining out to 

 the margin. The jaw (fig. 5) is long, and consists of a number of 

 elongate contiguous jtlates about 24 in number. 



There is a certain similarity in the form and number of- the 

 teeth of this radula to those of Pimctum, type pi/<pneum, var. irnnu- 

 tissimum conspectum, as given by Pilsbry on pi. i. fig. 8 of the 

 ' Manual of Conchology,' lb94. The jaw, however, is very different 

 in the broad rhombic plates, not in the least soldered together, of 

 that species, tig. 9, whereas the jaw of the Himalayan shell is 

 fairly solid. 



I "am impressed with the idea Mr. Pilsbry puts forward on p. 7, 

 writing on Pimctum : — " It is evidently a type of vast antiquity 

 and iH-obably has actual affinity to the ]N^eo-Zealandic genus Laoma, 

 both may perhaps be regarded as remnants of a Paleozoic fauna." 

 It is quite possible its generic relations go back to pre-Cretaceous 

 times. Portions of the Himalayan on the east and (Southern India 

 were then dry land, washed by the Cretaceous sea on both sides of 

 Peninsular India. 



The shell of Helix Jmmilis is much more discoid than that of 

 pimctum, and the umbilicus is very open. There is no connection 

 with PatuJa, the jaw in that genus is quite diflferent. Unfortunately 

 we do not know what the animal of this Himalayan species is like, 

 whether there is a peripodial groove or not. 



The jaw and radula are both more like what Pilsbry figures on 

 pi. 70. "fig. 29 and pi. 70. fig. 38 of V. pulchella, and jaw more 

 like fig. 35 Zoogenites harpa, fc?ay. 



Helix (Endodonta ?) eotundtts, n. sp. (Plate CLYIII. fig. 8.) 



Locality. Ootacamund [Colonel B. II. Beddome). ^No. 964, 

 12.iv.l6. Beddome Coll., P.M. 



Shell very globose and very slightly depressed, very finely perfo- 

 rate, flat on base ; sculpture, faint irregular transverse plication, with 

 close, regular, microscopic longitudinal striae ; colour dull ocbra- 

 ceous ; spire low, apex flatly rounded ; suture impressed ; whorls G^, 

 closely and regularly waved ; aperture narrowly lunate ; peristome 

 thin, reflected on columellar margin, which is very oblique. 



Size : maj. diam. 4-25 ; alt. axis 2'4 mm. 



A single specimen of this peculiar little shell occurred among 

 the unsorted lot from Ootacamund, its globose form renders it very 

 distinguishable when it may be found again. I place it provision- 

 ally in Endodonta. 



