39 



ON SOME RECENT CONCHOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES IN VICTORIA, 



AUSTRALIA. 



By Mrs. Agnes F. Kenton. 



Read 8th December, 1899. 



Several interesting additions to the Molluscan fauna of Victoria have 

 lately been obtained by me, consisting of species previously only 

 known from neighbouring colonies or hitherto simply recorded vaguely 

 from "New Holland." 



These specimens have been obtained from the vicinity of San Reino, 

 Wcstport Bay, and are as follows : — 



1. Murex planiliratus, Reeve. Two specimens, one in beautiful 

 condition, one somewhat water-worn. 



2. Murex trifokmis, Reeve. The specimens have the spiral ' hooks ' 

 less well developed, or pronounced, than in the typical specimens of 

 31. acantltopterus, Lam., of which this form may prove to be a variety, 

 but they are more delicate in character than those of the typical 

 31. triformis. Mr. Sowerby, however, states that Reeve was right in 

 specifically distinguishing the present species from 31 acanthopterus, 

 the shell being of a coarser character, and the upper and lower 

 contractions of the fringed varices being much less prominent. 



3. Murex octogonus, Quoy & Gaimard. One very tine specimen, 

 showing that Mr. Brazier erred in considering 31. octogonus to be 

 identical with 31. umbilicatus, Ten. - Woods. The sculpture of 

 31. octogonus is much finer, the varices are not so coarse, and continue 

 round the angles to the sutures, while the umbilicus is scarcely 

 perceptible. The canal of 31 octogonus is much longer, the shell is 

 more fusiform, and turreted, and has half a whorl more, the ribs are 

 not so prominent, and above each suture it has a narrow band of 

 a lighter colour. Finally, in 31. umbilicatus there is a clear row of 

 prickly spines, encircling the base, and quite separated from the varices. 

 This species has previously been recorded from Moreton Bay, Queens- 

 land ; St. Vincent's Gulf, South Australia ; Torres Straits ; Boss 

 Strait, Tasmania ; Bay of Islands, New Zealand ; (?) Pacasmayo, Peru. 



4. Murex Angasi. Several specimens have been dredged at San 

 Bemo. Two were identified by Mr. Brazier as 31. bipunctatus, Sby., 

 but since the purplish-brown spots so characteristic of that species 

 are wanting, I do not consider them to be 31. bipunctatus. They may 

 represent 31. Cordismei, Watson (Voy. Challenger). 



5. Murex Penchinati, Crosse (= 31. Huttonice, Bryce- Wright). A 

 single immature specimen. 



[Mrs. Kenyon having requested me to read this paper for her, 

 I take the opportunity of adding that a single specimen sent by her 

 for exhibition under the name of 31urex Petterdi, Sby., and as coming 

 from San Remo, appears to me to be inseparable from the Medi- 

 terranean 31. cr (status, Brocchi. — F. R. Sykes.] 



