182 



DESCRIPTION OF A HELICOID LAND-SHELL (XANTROMELON 

 BEDNALLI) FROM CENTRAL AUSTRALIA. 



By J. H. PoNsoNBY, F.Z.S. 



Read lOth June, 1904. 



Xanthomelon Bednalli, n.sp. 



Testa umbilicata, turbinata, solidula, f usco-olivacea ; spira modice 

 exserta, coniformis ; anfr. 5 turaiduli, sutura valde impressa discreti ; 

 primus fere laevis, cseteri lineis incrementi conspicuis oblique curvatis 

 ornati et striis spiralibus irregularibus decussati, ita ut seriebus 

 granulorum sculpti videantur, ultimus inflatus magnus, antice sensim 

 descendens ; apertura fere circularis, oblique disposita. Marginibus 

 intus caeruleo-albidis, sat distantibus, callo tenuissimo nitido junctis, 

 dextro expanse et leviter reflexo, columellari valde incrassato, um- 

 bilicum latum pervium partim obtegente. Diam. maj. 22"5 mm., 

 min. 17'5mm, ; alt. 18 mm. 



Mab. — MacDonnell Eange, Central Australia. 



This species was kindly sent by Mr. Bednall, of Adelaide, whose 

 name it has been a pleasure to associate with it. The shells, two adult 



Fig. 1. Xanthomelon Bednalli. 

 , ' 2. Sculpture of same, highly magnified. 



3. Sculpture of X. grandituberculatus, similarly magmfaed. 



and several young, are related to Thersites {Eadra) grandituherculata, 

 Tate ■ From it, however, X Bednalli is readily distinguished by its 

 non-continuous peristome, the absence of any flatness of the whorls 

 below the suture, and more especially by the sculpture, which, as will 

 be seen by reference to the accompanying magnified drawing, is quite 

 different to that of Professor Tate's species. _ 



It is understood that the type will be deposited by Mr. Bednall m 

 the South Australian Museum. _ ^, ^ ^, 



As the result of Mr. Hedley's- investigations it appears that the 

 present and similar species should be included in Xanthomelon. 



1 Report of the Horn Expedition, pt. ii, Zoology, p. 200, pi. xviii, fig. 11 (1896). 



2 Op. cit., p. 224. 



