82 Mr. W. H. Benson on new Species of Helix. 



iiitus superne pallide castanea, fascia angusta mediana basalique 

 lata albidis, fascia latissima purpurascente iuterposita, margine 

 albida ; peristomate tenui, acuto ; margine columellari expansius- 

 culo, superne triangulatira reflexo, umbilicum partim tegente. 



Diam. major 72, minor 62, axis 36 mill.; apert. 38 mill, lata, 31 alta. 



Habitat in collibus prope Trichoor Indise meridionalis. 



This magnificent species (received through Lieut. Charles 

 Annesley Benson), measuring nearly 3 inches in diameter, was 

 discovered by Lieut. G. W. Cox, of the 45th Madras Regiment 

 of Infantry, to whom I am also indebted for Helix Shiplayi, Pfr. 

 (remarkable for its file-like sculpture), as well as for a light variety 

 of Cydophorus Nilagiricus, and a small shell which may be a 

 variety of C. coeloconus, B. A specimen of H. Shiplayi exceeds 

 in size the type of Pfeiffer^s species, being 25 mill, in the greater, 

 22^ mill, in the lesser diameter, and having an axis of 15 mill. 



H. Basileus is related to the Cingalese group containing H. 

 Chenui and H. Ganoma, Pfr., approaching the latter in the more 

 depressed spire and the want of solidity, and difl'ering from both 

 shells in its planate whorls and simple suture. In the mode of 

 colouring and the formation of the umbilicus and columellar lip, 

 it has more resemblance to the less richly tinted H. Chenui, 

 which exhibits, however, a depressed suture and more convex 

 whorls. Viewed on the under side, the new species reminds the 

 observer of the Malayan H. Humphrey siana, Lea ; but it does 

 not possess the conoid spire, the closely wound whorls, or the 

 impressed suture of that more narrowly banded species. 



During several years I have urged the collection of the shells 

 of the hill region of Travancore, feeling assured, with reference 

 to its position at the narrow extremity of the Indian Peninsula, 

 and to its climate, that it was likely to produce novel forms. 

 The present satisfactory instalment, from the northern portion 

 of the group, proves the conviction to have had a fair founda- 

 tion ; and when explored by experienced collectors, a further 

 supply of interesting objects may be confidently expected from 

 the more southern mountain-ranges. It is difficult to conceive 

 how such a giant among the Testacea of Hindostan as H. Basi- 

 leus should have been so long overlooked by even the most care- 

 less observers. Although associated with Nilgherry forms, it 

 probably does not extend its range to any portion of that group 

 which has been hitherto explored by conchologists. 



Helix Trochalia, Bens., n. sp. 



//. testa anguste umbilicata, solidiuscula, orbiculato-conoidea, subtro- 

 chiformi, irregulariter arcuato-striatula, striis nonnullis prominenti- 

 oribus, castanea, apicem versus albida ; spira coaoidea, apice valde 

 obtuse, sutura leviter iuipressa ; anfractibus 5, primis convexius- 



