Mr. W. H. Benson on neiv Land Shells from Ceylon. 91 



to acceptance with Lamarck's genus Anostoma, like which the 

 molhisk, to use M. Petit's words, " arriving at a certain stage of 

 growth, abandons in the formation of the shell the regular course 

 followed by the animals of the genus Helia;." 



The separation of such a singular group is, at all events, a great 

 convenience in conchological research. 



2. Streptaxis Cingalensis, nobis. 



Testa arcuatim riraato-perforata, depresso-ovata, solida, abbreviata, 

 lata, obsolete costulato-striata, albido-cornea, subtus polita ; spira 

 elevatiuscula, sutura crenulata, apice convexiusculo ; anfractibus 

 6 convexis, ultimo ad latus deviante, basi convexa ; apertura sub- 

 triangulari, 3-dentata, marginibus callo lamellam intrantem vali- 

 dam emittente junctis, dextro reflexo, antrorsum arcuate, uniden- 

 tato, supeme profuade sinuato, columellari reflexo, ad basin uni- 

 dentato ; umbilico intus striate, linea impressa circumscripto. 



Diam. major 11, minor 8, alt. 5 mill. 



Hab. in pago Hewagam Corle Insulse Ceylon, inter rimas saxorum. 



Nearly allied to the last, but differing in the dentition of the 

 aperture, in the umbilicus, and in the less flattened form. The 

 replication of the sinus at the top of the aperture simulates 

 another tooth at right angles with the laminar plait on the 

 parietes, a character observable also in S. PetToteti, and to 

 which S. Layardiana also shows a tendency. It is intermediate 

 between those two species in the dentition of the aperture, but 

 wants the additional tooth which occurs at the base, within the 

 aperture, in the first-named species, from which it is moreover 

 much further removed in form than from S. Layardiana. 



Mr. Layard has communicated the following note on the ani- 

 mal : — " Epiphragm glassy, animal yellow, with a red line on the 

 back, extending up the two superior tentacles, at the tip of which 

 the eyes are situated : all four tentacles clubbed ; when crawling 

 the shell is carried nearly level with the back." 



The colouring of the animal reminds me of the hues observable 

 in the Pupa of the Isle of France, as well as in the Indian and 

 Galle species, P. bicolor of Hutton. It has already been re- 

 marked by others that Streptaocis has an obvious affinity with 

 the Mauritian Pupa Pagoda in the formation of the shell. 



3. Helix ceraria, nobis. 



Testa obtecte perforata, depressa, nitidula, cerea, radiatim rugoso- 

 striata, striis spiralibus remotiusculis decussata, luteo-fuhida, 

 versus apicem rubescente, spira convexiuscula, apice obtusato ; 

 anfractibus 4, superne planulatis, ultimo late, carinato, subtus 

 convexo ; apertura magna, late lunata, peristomate simplici, acute, 



7* 



