N ASS ART A. 221 



This genus partakes of the characters of several recognized 

 forms. Its animal, however, differs from that of Triton in the 

 approximated tentacles, with the eyes near their ends, and the 

 anteriorly produced foot ; from that of Nassa in the tail not being 

 bifurcated. In its shell it may be known from Phos by its 

 recurved canal ; from Nassa by its circumscribed inner lip and 

 elongated canal ; and from Triton by its want of irregular varices. 



The first attempt at a monograph of this interesting little genus 

 was made by Mr. Arthur Adams, in the Zool. Proc. for 1853, in 

 connection with the publication of the generic diagnosis. Subse- 

 quently, illustrated monographs have been published by Sowerby 

 in his Thesaurus Conchyliorum and by Kobelt in the Conchylien 

 Cabinet of Kiister. The few species are all inhabitants of the 

 tropical Asiatic coasts and contiguous seas. 



N. NIVEA, Gmel. PL 84, figs. 535-538. 



Whitish, sometimes with a rosy tinge. Length, 22 mill. 



Tranquebar ; Singapore ; Malacca. 



I consider Triton carduus, Reeve (fig. 537), a synonym of this 

 species ; Kobelt being very much mistaken in referring it to the 

 genus Trophon. In N. multiplicata, Sowb. (fig. 538), I am also 

 unable to find distinctive characters. 



N. SOPHIA, Benoit. Manual II, t, ti<5, f. 381. 



Yellowish brown. Length, 34 mill. 



Mediterranean, Coralline zone. 



A single specimen in the collection of Benoit. I have described 

 and figured this species under Coralliophila in Vol. II, p. 211 ; 

 its generic position being somewhat doubtful. ATI European 

 conchologist has referred it to Naxsaria nivea, and there is, of. 

 course, a possibility that it is a specimen of that species intro- 

 duced accidentally into the Mediterranean Sea. 



N. ACUMINATA, Reeve. PL 84', figs. 539-546, 548. 

 Whitish, indistinctly fasciate with reddish brown. 



Length, 39 mill. 



China tiea ; Indian Ocean. 



With this species I unite N. bitubercularis, A. Ad. (fig. 541), 

 from the Philippine Islands ; N. suturalis, A. Ad. (fig. 542), from 

 Malacca; N. recurva, Sowb. (fig. 543), from Ceylon; N. vari- 



