264 Mr. W. H. Bcuson on nciv Land Shells from 



To these may be added the well-known subfossil Bulimus au- 

 ris mlpina, besides Achatina exulata, nobis^ No. 77 of Reeve's 

 ' Monograpb/ figured as No. 572 in the 78th plate of Bulimus, 

 and B. relegatus of the present paper. I have also inspected a 

 subfossil Helix from the same deposit, which, though not in a 

 sufficient state of preservation to admit of a diagnosis, exhibited 

 tokens of relationship to a series of Madeiran and North African 

 species typified by H. tediformis, Sowerby. We can scarcely 

 hope, notwithstanding the hitherto imperfect exploration of the 

 island, that living examples of the larger species should be dis- 

 covered. However, a series of specimens in my possession of B. 

 auris vulpina and B. Helena (as described by Pf'eiffer), showing 

 great variation in the size and figure of the former, and consider- 

 able thickening of the peristome, and angularity at its base, in 

 the latter, tends to estabhsh a striking approximation between 

 the two forms; and leads to the conclusion that the extinct 

 species was the analogue of the recent shell during a former 

 period, when the mountains were covered with an indigenous 

 tree-fern forest, now restricted to the highest point. Capt. Grey 

 mentions that bones, apparently of birds, are found in the thin 

 seam of calcareous earth in which the shells occur. These bones 

 are well deserving of examination in relation to the extinct or- 

 nithology of the Mascarene Islands, and of New Zealand. The 

 recent appointment, to the government of St. Helena, of a gen- 

 tleman attached to the pursuit of natural history, especially of 

 conchology, will, it is to be hoped, be productive of more extended 

 information. 



4. Bulimus relegatus, nobis, n. s. 



Testa perforata, ovato-acuminata, longitudinaliter striata, striis trans- 

 versis elevatis obsoletis decussata, albida; spira elongato-conica, 

 apice obtuse, rutilo ; sutura impressiuscula ; anfractibus 54- con- 

 vexiusculis, ultimo spira breviori, sensim descendente ; columella 

 strictiuscula ; apertura ovali, peristomate simplici, marginibus sub- 

 conniventihus, eallo junctis, margiue columellari expauso, appresso. 



Long. 30, diam. U mill. ; long, apert. \A\, lat. 9| mill. 



Hah. in uisula St. Heleiise, subfossilis. Lieut. Lefroy. 



5. Bulimus Sinensis, nobis, n. s. 



Testa perforata, sinistrorsa, ovato-coiiica, glabra, lutesceute, subtus 

 pur])ureo-castaueo bifasciata ; spira conica, apice obtusiusculo ; an- 

 fractibus .5| convexiusculis, ultimo spiram aequaute, fasciis sub- 

 uiediani basalique intra aperturam prodiictis ; columella subtorta ; 

 apertura obliqua, oblique ovata, peristomate planato-reflexo, livide 

 purpureo, postice livide fusco, marginibus callo albido vix juuctis, 

 columellari albido breviter superne dilatato. 



Long. .30, lat. IS mill. ; long, apert. 16, lat. 12 mill. 



Hab. in Lnperio Sinensi australi. Received by Dr. Cantor, to whom 

 I am indebted for the specimen, from the south of China. 



