106 Mr. W. H. Benson on some new species of Helix. 



5. Helix dumeticola, nobis, n. s. 



Testa sub-late umbilicata, depressa, supevne plane costulato-striata, 

 subtus liKviori, teuui, cornea, epidermide lutea caduca, quasi 

 lubrica, induta ; spira convexiuscula, apice obtuse, sutura impressa ; 

 anfractibus 3^, convexiusculis, ultimo rapide accrescente, subde- 

 presso, basi valde convexa ; umbilico' latiusculo, profuudo ; aper- 

 tura magna, vix obliqua, subcirculari ; peristomate tenui simplici, 

 acuto, marginibus subapproximatis, columellari expausiusculo, vix 

 reflexo. 



Diam. major 1 1 mill., minor 9, alt. 4^. 



Hab. rarior derelicta ad Green Point, P. B. S., frequentior in duraetis 

 littoralibus prope Simon's Town et Strand, ad littora Sinus Falsi. 



This shell has some characters in common with the Natal shell, 

 H. vernicosa, Krauss, but is at once to be distinguished by the 

 form of the aperture, its more flattened spire, and wider um- 

 bilicus. In the sculpture, and depression of the last whorl, it 

 bears some resemblance to one of the largest South-African 

 species, H. Caffra, Fer., which is not known to me as occurring 

 nearer to Cape Town than Algoa Bajr in the eastern part of the 

 colony, where it probably inhabits, in like manner, with this 

 species, thickets among sandy dunes near the shore. 



On a review of the South-African Helices described in this 

 and previous numbers of the 'Annals,' it will be found that, 

 besides H. Trotteriana, from the eastern part of the colony, ten 

 species, previously undescribed, have been added to the list. 

 When we consider how small a district was explored, viz. the 

 Cape Peninsula and the sandy isthmus adjoining it, as far as its 

 boundary mountains, it may well be concluded that much re- 

 mains to be done in the extensive tract embraced by the British 

 possessions in that quarter. 



H. Capensis, the most abundant species at the Cape, was only 

 described by Pfeiffer in 1841, and H. Menkeana in 1842. Of 

 the Helices inhabiting the environs of the chief town in the 

 colony, H. globulus (which is conspicuous from its size) alone 

 appears to have attracted the attention of earlier observers. In 

 Krauss' ' Sud Afrikanischen Mollusken ' will be found, in addi- 

 tion to his new species, the most complete catalogue of Helices 

 previously described from that region. An enumeration of 

 other scattered species attributed to it may form a desirable 

 supplement. 



H. Bulbus, Menke, was added by Pfeiffer in the ' Malak. 

 Zeitschrift' for 1848. In the absence of descriptions it is im- 

 possible to say what Helicella comatulu and sectilis, Helicostyla 

 connexiva and dolosa of Ferussac's ' Prodromus,' or Theba Eklo- 



