18 HELIX-PAPUINA. 



Excessively variable in coloring, but typically as described above, 

 (figs. 59, 60, 63), the dark form being typical. The spire is conical, 

 apex obtuse; whorls 5^ to 6, their convexity slight, the last usually 

 obscurely angular at the periphery. Aperture oblique, obtusely 

 subtriangular ; lip not widely expanded, typically dark, triangularly 

 reflexed at the umbilicus, inner edge of the columella concave. 



Alt. 25, diam. 20 mill. 



Alt. 24, diam. 22 mill. 



Ysabel and Bougainville, Solomon Islands. 



H. meta PFR., P. Z. S. 1856, p. 381, t. 26, f. 5 (notf. 4) ; Monogr. 

 iv, p. 257. DOHRN in Contin. of Kiister's Conchyl. Cab. p. 588, t. 

 173, f. 1-3. H. deidamia ANGAS, P. Z. S. 1869, p. 625, t. 48, f. 3. 

 BRAZIER, Journ. de Conchyl. 1880, p. 311. H. acmella PFR., P. Z. 

 S. 1860, p. 135, t. 50, f. 4 ; Monogr. v, p. 335. DOHRN, torn. cit. p. 

 589, 1. 173, f. 5, 6. SMITH, P. Z. S. 1885, p. 590. BRAZIER, Journ. 

 de Conchyl. 1880, p. 302. 



When' typical this form may be known by the dark brown or 

 olive body-whorl, purple spire and broad white sutural border. 

 There are, however, many variations in color pattern. One of the 

 commonest is pictured in fig. 60. The color is clear yellow becom- 

 ing purple above ; sutural band present ; lip dark. Another yellow 

 form lacks the purple on spire, and has the lip white ; suture 

 bordered. 



H. deidamia Angas (PI. 9, fig. 70) is a synonym of the typical 

 form. 



Var. ACMELLA Pfr. PI. 9, figs. 64, 65, 66, 62. 



Upper portion of the outer lip more expanded ; color clear-light- 

 olive-yellow', paler on the spire ; lip white. 



The alleged differences of form between this and H. meta do not 

 hold in the series of 36 specimens before me, in which some shells 

 with the widest body-whorl, have the typical coloration of meta (fig. 

 63). If. acmella has been collected on Bougainville, Ysabel, Faro and 

 Florida Jslands of the Solomon Group. The locality " Admiralty 

 Islands" originally given for the species, is incorrect. 



Smith mentions a specimen from the coral limestone region of 

 Florida Island, which has the body-whorl of a salmon tint and the 

 three uppermost volutions bright red. The lip is white. A speci- 

 men before me has the same coloration. This form corresponds 

 with fig. 4, of plate 36, P. Z. S. 1856, considered by Pfeiffer as a 

 form of meta. I have figured it on PL 17, fig. 27. 



