Tertiary.} PALEONTOLOGY OF VICTORIA. [Mollusca. 



Plate XXX., Figs. 2-2c. 

 CYPR^A (ARICIA) PLATYRHYNCHA (McCoy). 



Description. — PjTiform ; back rounded, most convex near posterior end, where 

 a slig-ht depression marks tbe place of the entirely concealed spire, gradually tapering 

 to the .anterior end, which is abruptly depressed or iJattened from above downwards, 

 and extended into a broad flat rostrum, channelled below by the straight anterior 

 canal ; posterior canal very short and abruptly reflexed to the place of the spire, the 

 right thickened margin much larger than the left; under side rounded, mouth 

 nairow, flexuous, nearly edentulous, the posterior half and anterior fourth of both 

 lips without teeth, tlie intervening quarter of the length of the outer lip having 

 about 12 obtuse small teeth on the edge, and the corresponding portion of inner lip 

 with still smaller and fewer similar teeth, not extended as sulci over the base. Length, 

 4 inches ; proportional width, j%\ ; greatest height, -f*Jo ; length of anterior canal, 

 rtfir > posterior canal, yj^ ; width of anterior rostral prolongation, j-j/^- 



Tliis belongs to the curious group of anterioriy prolonged 

 Cowries of which the C. ejhnia is the oldest known. In this 

 si^ecies the rostrum is flattened like a duck's bill in the type 

 specimen ; but I have seen others in which, although depressed, it is 

 narrower, and in one or two a slight indication of the two anterior 

 dorsal tubercles so conspicuous in C. esimia may be seen, and in 

 one the number of teeth on the outer lip is greater, in all those 

 respects showing an approach to C. e.rvnia, from which, even if 

 the anterior end were broken oflF, it is easily distinguished by its 

 nearly obsolete teeth never extended into sulci, and by the com- 

 pletely concealed spire. 



Not uncommon in the Miocene Tertiary of Bird-Rock Point, 1 5 

 miles S. of Geelong (A" 22). 



Explanation of FionRES. 



Plate XXX. — Fig. 2, profile view, natural size. Fig. 2a, view of base of same specimen, 

 showiug the paucidentate character of the mouth. Fig. 24, dorsal view of same specimen, 

 showing the flattened anterior beak and absence of exposed spire. Fig. 2c, posterior view of 

 same specimen, showing form of transverse outline and absent or concealed spire. 



Frederick McCoy. 



By Authority : Geoege Skinner, Acting Government Printer, Melbom-ne. 



[40] 



