AURIS-OTOSTOMUS. 107 



Subgenus OTOSTOMUS Beck, 1837. 

 (For references see p. 95). 



Shell obliquely ovate, of solid cretaceous texture, umbilicate ; 

 spire smooth without folds or rib-striae ; aperture oblong, produced 

 forward below, two-thirds the shell's length ; peristome basin-shaped, 

 the outer lip broadly reflexed, with an inner concave flange, the 

 columella with a strong, plate-like fold. Type Auris signata. 



The only known species inhabits the Province of Bahia, Brazil. 

 The flanged lip, fold-bearing columella, and solid, cretaceous texture, 

 all indicate the close relationship of this form to the typical Auris 

 and to Eudolichotis, and sunder it from such forms as Bulimus auris- 

 leporis. 



The type of Otostomus was expressly stated by Gray and by Herr- 

 mannsen as early as 1847, to be A. signata. The subsequent selec- 

 tion of aurisleporis as type of Ototstomus by von Martens (1860) can- 

 not therefore be held valid. 



A. SIGNATA Spix. PI. 40, fig. 20. 



Shell umbilicate-rimate, ear-shaped, solid, strong and opaque, cal- 

 careous ; white or nearly so, with four wide brown spiral bands, often 

 much interrupted or transformed into vertical streaks; spire white 

 or whitish, the apex black, several early whorls with a black sub- 

 sutural band, rarely lacking. Surface lusterless, roughened by very 

 irregular longitudinal wrinkles. Spire conic, short, apex obtuse; 

 whorls 5, the last oblong, distorted. 



Aperture two-thirds the shell's length, oblong, oblique, produced 

 forward below, the opening very much contracted ; peristome white, 

 broadly reflexed, thick, its face basin-shaped, widened within by a 

 broad concave flange extending from base to above middle of outer 

 lip, its edge often weakly crenulated ; columellar margin reflexed, 

 thick, long and straight, its inner edge showing a rounded sinus be- 

 low and a wide lamellar fold above ; parietal wall short, covered 

 with a white callus. Alt. 41, diam. 23 mill. 



Province of Bahia, Brazil. 



Auris signata SPIX, Test. Bras., p. 17, pi. 12, f. 3. Auris vittata 

 SPIX, 1. c., f. 4. Auricula signata WAGNER, in Spix, p. 17. Helix 

 signata MORIC., Mern. Soc. Phys. Hist. Nat. Geneve, vii, p. 431. 

 Bulimus signatus DESH. in Lam., An. s. Vert, viii, p. 254; in Fer., 

 Hist., ii, p. 64, pi. 152, f. 15-18. GRATELOUP, Actes Soc. Linn. 

 Bord.,xi, p. 422, pi. 2, f. 13. PFR., ConchyL Cab., p. 145, pi. 18, f. 



