494 Mr. W. H. Benson on new Species of Helix and 



vexo; apertura late securiformi-lunulata; peristomate teaui, acuto ; 



margine columellari expansiusculo. 

 Diam. major 5, minor 4, axis 3 mill. 

 Habitat prope Cape Point. 



This shell was discovered by Mr. George Wing Browning, 

 magistrate at Simonstown, a zealous collector in natural history. 

 I examined two specimens in the collection of Mr. J. Sydney 

 Hawkins, by whom they were brought from the Cape. The 

 species is smaller than H. Prionacis, with the same number of 

 whorls ; the plication is closer, less deep, and more regular, and 

 extends only just below the angulate periphery, instead of to the 

 umbilicus, which is wider in H. Prionacis. In the latter species 

 the periphery is more compressed, the rufous-brown markings 

 are more disposed to be spotted than strigate, and do not extend 

 to the lower side as in H. Browningii. 



7. Helix Omphalion, B., n. sp. 

 H. testa umbilicata, subgloboso-depressa, superne confertira oblique 



plicata, subtus striata, lucida, polita, viridescenti- cornea ; spira 



subconvexa, sutura subprofunda, apice obtuso ; anfractibus 3|, 



convexis, ultimo rotundato ; apertura obliqua, rotundato-lunata ; 



peristomate tenui, acuto ; margine columellari verticaliter descen- 



dente, late reflexo ; umbilico angusto, profundo. 

 Diam. major A^, minor 4, axis 2\ mill. 

 Habitat prope Simonstown. Teste J. S. Hawkins. 



A more minute, darkly coloured species, and with a narrower 

 umbilicus, than H. dumeticola, B., which I took in the same 

 neighbourhood, and more nearly approaching to, but quite dis- 

 tinct from, the large Natal form H. vernicosa, Krauss. 



An immature specimen of PfeiflFer's fine typical Helix Scharfia, 

 from Bredasbosch, figured in pi. 2. figs. 2 & 3 ^ Malak. Blatter' 

 for 1861, was received from Mr. E. Layard. It occurred at 

 Oudebosch, near Gnadendal, in the same quarter whence Dr. 

 Pfeiflfer's specimens were procured. Mr. Layard also sent a 

 smaller whitish variety from Swellendam, and another variety 

 (white, with chestnut bands) from Bredasdorp, to the north- 

 east of Cape Lagulhas. Mr. Layard reports that the eyes of 

 those varieties are situated at the upper and inner side of a 

 lengthened knob turning down from the summits of the upper 

 tentacula. The foot, when the animal is withdrawn into the 

 shell, looks like a piece of raw meat ; and the animal greedily 

 devours other living Mollusca confined with it, but in the bush 

 is attracted in numbers by pieces of water-melons placed as a 

 bait. He also sent a single imperfect specimen of H Hartvigiana, 

 Pfr., received from Oudebosch, and a large variety of H. hi- 

 smlpta, B., 11 mill, in diameter, which occurs at Bredasdorp. 



