38 Mr. Swainson on New Shells. 
upper part of the body whorl with cancellated punctured strie; 
base with simple striz. 
DeseRIPTION. 
Shell about three quarters of an inch long, in shape, habit, ‘i 
even in colour, resembling M. casta (Zool. Ill. pl. 48.) but the 
brown band, (which in that shell is merely formed by an external 
epidermis,) in this is internal, and delicately waved with capil- 
lary longitudinal lines of whitish; the longitudinal  striz are 
clouded and simple, but the transverse striee are more remote, 
and deeply punctured; those in the middle of the body whorl, and 
of the base are likewise simple; the plaits on the columella are 
four, and very prominent; the base of the pillar is tipt with brown. 
Ob. This shell, together with M. casta, olivaria, dactylus and 
oliveformis, constitute a particular group, distinguished by the 
plaits of the pillar extending far beyond the aperture. 
Inhabits the South Seas? mus, nost. 
Art. V.—Account of the Earthquake tn Chilt, in Novem- 
ber, 1822, from Observations made by several Englishmen 
residing in that Country. 
{Communicated by F. Piace, Esq.] 
Cur is a long narrow country, lying between the mountains of 
the Andes on the east, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It ex- 
tends from 20° 20’ to 43° 50’ south latitude, and from 68° 50’ to 
74° 20' west longitude from Greenwich, its length being about~ 
1350 miles, and its average breadth about 130 miles. 
While under the dominion of Spain, Chili was visited by very 
few Europeans. Its great fertility, its abundance of metals and 
minerals, its agreeable and healthy climate, have, since it has been 
declared independent, induced a considerable number of English- 
men, and a few other foreigners, to become residents, and the 
number is continually increasing. j 
The country rises gradually but irregularly from the-sea coast to 
the mountains; it is exceedingly diversified, but the principal 
