ioo R. BULLEN NEWTON on 



REMARKS. This shell is of frequent occurrence in the nodules containing 

 the Teredo remains. It is most delicately thin and fragile, so much so that the 

 one complete example which was released without any attendant matrix has been 

 more or less broken during the process of handling for examination, although 

 sufficient remains for characterisation. This particular specimen was found in a 

 loose sandy matrix occupying one of the Teredo tubes, other examples appear to 

 be located in similar tubes lined with siliceo-calcareous material of considerable 

 hardness. In the details of its pallial indentation, it resembles Gastrochaena, 

 although that is an edentulous Pelecypod besides having most prominently 

 gaping valves, the present specimen differing as well in its closed valves and its 

 peculiar dentition, the characters of the latter appearing to connect it with 

 De Blainville's genus, Coralliophaga, which is known to exist in the tubes of 

 perforating molluscs. In general external features and shape these Nigerian 

 fossils show, likewise, a resemblance to Lithophaga, besides being somewhat 

 like Gregorio's figures, of Byssomya petricoloides, Lea, 1 in contour and size, from 

 the Claiborne Eocene of the United States, although according to Dr. Dall 2 that 

 species may represent a Lithophaga, as first suggested by Gregorio ; its history 

 is, however, not clear, and we seem to know none of its internal characters, i.e., 

 the features of the pallial line which, of course, in the true Lithophaga is entire 

 and not sinuated as in Coral Hop haga. 



M. Cossmann 3 recognises several species described by Deshayes from the 

 Paris Basin Eocene as belonging to Cor alliop haga, but which are of very 

 different contour to the present shell, being without a cylindrical axis and having 

 a usually rounder sinus to the pallial line. Another species has been recognised 

 from the German Oligocene by Von Koenen, 4 whilst Cossmann 5 has also deter- 

 mined certain forms of Coralliophaga from the older Miocene deposits of France, 

 as also Dr. Sacco 6 from the Italian Pliocene. 



OCCURRENCE. No particular bed mentioned. Accompanying Teredo tubes, 

 and Tugurium nigeriense. 



COLLECTOR. Sir John Eaglesome. 



1 Gregorio: Ann. Ge*ol. Pal. (Palermo), 1890, pi. 38, figs. 25, p. 236, and pi. 22, figs. 6, 7, p. 184. 



2 Dall : Trans. Wagner Free Inst. Sci. Philadelphia, 1898, Vol. 3, part 4, p. 801. 

 J Ann. Soc. R. Mai. Belgique, 1886, Vol. 21, pp. 146, 147. 



4 Abhandl. Geol. Spec. Preussen, 1893, Vol. 10, part 5, p. 1192. 

 8 Act. Soc. Linn. Bordeaux, 1911, Vol. 65, part 2, pp. 83-87. 

 6 Moll. Terz. Piemonte, 1900, Vol. 28, pp. 7-9, pi. i, figs. 28-33. 



