CLAVATOR. 195 



Madagascar : fossil in pleistocene dunes at Cape Saint Marie 

 (Grandidier) ; recent at Andrahomana (Ch. Alluaud), and 

 Fort Dauphin (F. Sikora). 



Bulimus grandidieri C. et F., Journ. de Conchyl. 1868, p. 

 182, pi. 7, f. 1. Clavator grandidieri C. et F., DAUTZENBERG, 

 Journ. de Conchyl., 1900, p. 461; Bull. Soc. Zool. France, 

 xxvii, 1902, p. 198, with var. alba. Clavator placostyloides 

 KOBELT, Nachrbl. D. M. Ges., 1900, p. 21 (Feb., 1900), with 

 var. abbreviata; Conchyl. Cab., Buliminus, p. 651, pi. 99, f. 1, 

 and var. abbreviata, f. 2. Clavator vayssierei ANCEY, Journ. 

 de Conchyl. xlviii, 1900, p. 12, pi. 1, f. 1, 2. 



This species was originally described as a fossil from the 

 dune deposits containing the eggs of ^Epyornis. Fig. 29 is a 

 copy of the type figure. Mr. Ph. Dautzenberg considers 

 C. placostyloides and C. vayssierei to be recent specimens of 

 the same species, remarking that while grandidieri as ori- 

 ginally figured is narrower with a smaller aperture and lesa 

 dilated lip than placostyloides, yet the examination of a 

 number of specimens shows that the two forms are united 

 by numerous specimens of intermediate contour. 



la. Var. placostyloides Kobelt. PL 48, figs. 26, 27, 28. 



Eecent specimens are certainly in the average wider and 

 more compact than the type of grandidieri, with the aperture 

 larger; and it is not improbable that they will constitute a 

 recognizable variety, which will be called var. placostyloides, 

 this name having precedence over that of vayssierei (figs. 27, 

 28). The types of both were collected at or near Fort 

 Dauphin, on the southeast coast. Kobelt 's record " nicht 

 allzuweit von Antanarivo " was evidently a guess. 



The shell has much resemblance to Placostylus. It is white 

 under a polished yellow cuticle, copiously streaked with rich 

 dark chestnut. The first whorl seems to be smooth. Those 

 following are closely rib-striate and rather sparsely latticed 

 by a few spiral striae. The spirals soon disappear, and the 

 rib-striae diminish, becoming rather low and comparatively 

 distant wrinkles on the last two whorls; but the suture for 

 at least the last 2y 2 whorls is bordered below by strong, 



