265 



NOTES. 



Note on Glyptorhagada Silvehi {k.T<iGks). [Read ^th November, 

 1912.) — Three living sjiecimens of Gli/ptorhagada Silveri (Angas) from 

 Oiilnina, South Austraha, (250 miles north-east of Adelaide), were 

 presented to the British Museum by Mr. W. T. Bednall, a member of the 

 Society. These specimens are interesting as affording satisfactory 

 evidence on the colour of this species. The shell was described by 

 G. F. Angas in 1868 (Proc. Zool. Soc, p. 257) as 'cretacea ', and the colour 

 of specimens presented by the author to the British Museum endorses this 

 description. Thus matters have stood since 1868. It has, however, 

 recently been discovered that the colour thus described is merely the 

 result of exposure to natural bleaching agencies. Apparently it is only 

 under very exceptional circumstances that Helicoids are discovered in 

 their natural condition, as far as colour is concerned, in this part of 

 Australia. They are usually found dead and bleached. If, however, 

 after a long period of drought heavy rains come, the animals come out in 

 countless numbers from the deep crannies of the rocks and from vmder 

 the surface of the ground. A day or two is apparently sufficient for 

 them to refresh themselves, and after that time they all disappear. 

 On such a lucky occasion as this some specimens of Glyptorhagada Silveri 

 were found, and we are now able, after this lapse of years, to publish 

 a correct accoimt of the colour. The latter consists of a brownish ochre 

 ground-colour with three sjMral dark-brown bands (one being jjractically 

 sutural) upon the body-whorl. The upper two of these are continued 

 with diminished definiteness on to the remaining whorls. 



G. C. EoBSOx. 



