SUTER : COMMUNICATIONS PROW NEW ZEALANt). 5^ 



7.— Purpura seobina, Q. & G., var. rutila, n. v. 



Differs from the typical form, in which the interior is brown or 

 blackish-brown, by having this part of the shell coloured orange or 

 brownish-orange, the columella fulvous, and the epidermis of the shell 

 light-brown or cinereous, with a hue of yellow. This colour-variety 

 was first discovered by Mr. C. Spencer near Auckland, and later on I 

 found it in one place only at Te Onepoto, South Island. The Auck- 

 land specimens are much larger, height up to 33 mill., and of a brighter 

 colour, whilst the smaller South Island shells have a maximum height 

 of 17 mill. The outer lip has always an inner white margin. Type 

 in my collection. 



Capt. Hutton mentions a similarly yellow variety of P. haustrum 

 from Dunedin, which however I have not seen. 



8.— On some New Zealand Species of Trophon. 



(Plate iii, figs. 11 — 14.) 



Our species of Trophon may conveniently be brought into three 

 groups : 



A. — Group of T. sla?igeri, Gray, with T. anibigiius, Phil. 

 B. — „ T. patens, H. and J., with cheesemani, Hutt. 

 C. — ,, T. duodecimus, Gray (genus Kalydon, Hutt., including 



T. paivae, Crosse, T. plebejus, Hutt., and T. inferus, Hutt.). 



The species of each of these groups are closely allied to one 

 another, and the question arises whether some of them should not 

 take the rank of a variety only. This, however, I do not attempt just 

 now, as the soft parts have to be examined and compared, and it is 

 better left to a future revision of our Muricidae. 



The dentition of T. stangeri has been described by Capt. Hutton'-^ 

 but the radula of Trophon ambigmis (Phil.), has remained unknown. 

 Fig. 1 1 represents the teeth of the radula of the latter species, very 

 much resembling those figured by Capt. Hutton. The central tooth 

 transverse with 5 cusps of which the median and the externals are 

 much larger, but all five are united at the base. The laterals angled 

 and unicuspid. 



Fig. 12 illustrates the Muricoid operculum with subapical nucleus. 



Trophon ambiguus (rhil.) var. pumila, n. v. 



This variety is best described as a very elegant dwarf It is smaller 

 and more slender, the anterior canal a little shorter, but otherwise it 



2 Trans. N. Zeal. Inst., .\x, p. 121, pi. xiii, fig. Q (7'. quoyi, Reeve). 



