144 Zoological Society. 



Melania crebrum. M. testd cancellatd, elevato-conicd, crassd, 

 tenebroso-castaned ; spird valde elevatd ; anfractibus decern, con- 

 vexiusculis, ad basim striis impressis ; suturis impressis ; aperturd 

 parvuld, ovatd, intus albidd ; ad basim rotundd ; columella incur- 

 vatd. 

 Hah. Small streams, Guimaras, Philippines. 

 Length 1*5, diam. '5 of an inch. 



Remarks. — The symmetry of the outline and the extreme regu- 

 larity of the decussating lines over the whole of the whorls, except at 

 the base, are distinguishing characteristics of this species. The ele- 

 vated portions between the decussating lines are quadrangular and 

 resemble brickwork. The four specimens submitted are all " dead 

 shells," and are partly decomposed towards the apex. The aperture 

 is rather more than one-fourth the length of the shell. 



Melania reticulata. M. testd cancellatd, conicd, crassd, pal- 

 lidd; spird elevatd; anfractibus septem, planulatis, crasse can- 

 cellatis, ad basim striatis ; suturis impressis ; aperturd magnd, 

 trapezoided, ad basim angulatd, intus albd; columelld incurvatd, 

 contortdque. 

 Hab. China. 



Length 1*8, diam. '7 of an inch. 



Remarks. — This is a very remarkable and distinct species, covered 

 all over, except the lower part of the base whorl, with coarse, some- 

 what distant decussating striae, which rise into nodes and form qua- 

 drangular areas. Altogether it is a rough Cerithium-looking species. 

 The epidermis is remarkably thin and light-coloured, the upper por- 

 tion of the spire being quite white in the two specimens under exami- 

 nation. The aperture is more than one-third the length of the shell. 



Melania aculeus, Lea. M. testd Icevi, nonnunquam striatd vel 

 granulatd, elongate subulatd, crassd vel subcrassd, corned vel 

 fusco-nigricante ; spird acuminatd ; suturis linearibus ; anfracti- 

 bus planulatis ; aperturd ovatd, intus ccerulescente ; labro expanso. 



Hab. Siquijor, Naga, Cagayan, and others of the Philippines. 



Length 2*6, diam. '7 of an inch. 



Remarks. — When this species was described by J. Lea in 1832 

 (Trans. Am. Phil. Soc), he had seen but a single specimen, which 

 had neither granules nor striae. Among the large quantity of this 

 genus taken by Mr. Cuming in his Eastern voyage, were about forty 

 specimens of this singularly protean species. Were there but few, 

 and these as different as many of them are, no one would hesitate to 

 consider them as distinct species. But the large number and extra- 

 ordinary difference in them enables one, or rather compels one to keep 

 them in a group as curious divergent varieties. When we compare 

 the large smooth variety with the small variety covered with granules, 

 it is difficult to believe that they may have come from a common 

 parent, but the nuance is too complete in the series to admit of a 

 doubt. 



It was deemed advisable to re-describe this species, so that it might 



