66 PLEKOCHEILUS. 



iii, 1828, p. 533. SWAINS., Zool. Illustr. (2<1 ser.), ii, p. 103 (with 

 animal). Pelekocheilus sileni BECK, Index Moll., p. 55. Auricule 

 chevrotin CHENU, Le9 Elem., p. 243, f. 909. 



A very distinct species. In young shells (see pi. 22, fig. 58), the 

 outer lip becomes reflexed and the other features of maturity are 

 assumed before the strong fold of the columella is added, just as in 

 fulminans and blainvilleanus. The pattern of sculpture and features 

 of the nepionic shell are also the same as in the fulminans group, of 

 which this species is undoubtedly a member. 



P. FULMINANS Nyst. PI. 31, fig. 33. 



Shell acutely long-ovate, moderately solid, imperforate; brown 

 or yellowish-brown, with narrow zigzag dark stripes. Surface closely 

 and strongly ribbed on spire, the body-whorl with close vertical wrinkles 

 interrupted by obliquely descending ridges produced by a more or 

 less confluent malleation. Whorls 4f, those of spire nearly flat, the 

 last feebly convex above, its suture rapidly and obliquely descend- 

 ing. 



Aperture not much over half the length, liver-brown inside ; per- 

 istome well reflexed, thick, liver-brown ; columella with a projecting, 

 entering fold above. 



Alt. 53, diam. 29 ; alt. of aperture 29 mill. 



Province Cumana, Venezuela (Funck) Cave of Guacharos, near 

 Caripe, Colombia. 



B. fulminans NYST, Mem. Soc, Roy. Sci. de Liege, i, 1843, p. 261, 

 pi. 7, f. 1. REEVE, C. Icon., pi. 24, f. 160a. DESH. in Fer. Hist., p. 

 49, pi. 130, f. 11, 12. PFR., Monogr., ii, p. 25 ; vi, p. 12. MARTENS, 

 Binnenmoll. Venez., p. 17. SOWERBY, P. Z. S. 1889, p. 582 (with 

 var. linterce). B. bellulus JONAS, Zeitschr. f. Malak., 1844, p. 36 ; 

 Molluskolog. Beitr., p. 25, pi. 11, f. 18. PHIL., Abbild., ii, p. 9, pi. 

 3, f. 3. 



In fulminans the convex lobe of the columella in fully adult 

 shells is longer than in P. blainvilleanus. The aperture is smaller ; 

 outer lip less arcuate above, spire slenderer and more produced. 



Von Martens many years ago, included blainvilleanus and loveni 

 in fulminans as varieties ; and recently Sowerby has expressed the 

 same opinion. It is extremely likely that these forms are only geo- 

 graphic varieties, but in the absence of specimens actually connecting 

 them, it may be as well to allow them to stand as species for the pre- 



