smith: on voluta brazieri. 179 



body-whorl three bands of a darker brown, two being near the middle 

 and one just below the shoulder. Some dark-brown streaks, starting 

 from the suture, extend more or less over the shell. A close scrutiny 

 also reveals the presence of transverse thread-like reddish lines, which 

 are most conspicuous behind the edge of the labrum. The apex is 

 pale purplish rose, and the aperture purple also. The apex is 

 described by Dr. Cox as " granular." The specimen, in its present 

 condition, has lost the extreme protoconch, and the spire consists 

 of five whorls, which are distinctly longitudinally costate, especially 

 the three uppermost ones. 



Both Cox and Tryon have placed this species in the section 

 Callipara, probably on account of the general resemblance in form 

 to V. hullata, Swainson, from South Africa, and Tyron even ventured 

 the opinion that perhaps it might be " only a color-variety of that 

 species." An examination of the apices at once shows the absolute 

 distinctness of these two forms. In V. hidlata it is enormous for the 

 size of the shell and globose, whereas in the present species it is 

 minute. In this respect it agrees with some of the forms of Lyria, 

 as well as in the character of the columellar folds, which in the 

 typical forms {V. nucleus, etc.) consist of two or three small 

 plications anteriorly. Another feature common to this species and 

 nearly all the forms of Lyria is the presence of transverse hair-like 

 colour-lines. 



This interesting specimen evidently is not adult, and has an 

 abnormal aspect; indeed, I am of opinion that it is merely a monstrous 

 growth of V. deliciosa, Montrouzier. The plication and rosy colour 

 of the spire, the smooth body-whorl, and its style of coloration are 

 the same, the columellar folds are exactly similar, and the very fine 

 lirae above the three basal plicae are also faintly indicated, and finally, 

 the localities. New South Wales and New Caledonia, do not present 

 any difficulty in respect of this proposition. 



