50 VARICELLA. 



tween the varices, polished or with faint 

 growth-riblets only; columella strongly 

 concave. Porto R/ieo, Lesser Antilles. 



Section Lczvaricella. 



Sub genus PICHARDIELLA Fischer. 



Melaniella PFR., Monographia Helieeorum Yiventium iv, 

 p. 465 (1859), for Bui. acuticostatus, manzanillensis and 

 gracillimus. MARTENS in Albers, Die Heliceen, 1860, p. 267. 

 Not Melanella Bowdich, Elements of Conchology, 1822. 

 Pichardiella FISCHER, Journ. de Conchyl. 1887, p. 200, pro- 

 posed as a substitute for Melaniella Pfr. ; B. pichardi and 

 B. acuticostatus mentioned. 



Small, slender Varicellas with low sigmoid varices and 

 higher longitudinal ribs, which are narrower than their dis- 

 tinctly striate intervals; the pupiform or subcylindric em- 

 bryonic shell is striate, composed of 2% to 3% long whorls, 

 with exserted summit. Columella arcuate or straight, rang- 

 ing from distinctly truncate to nearly entire at the base. 

 Radula with well developed central teeth, all the teeth very 

 minute and not varying much in size. 



Type V. pichardi. Distribution, Antilles, south Florida. 



This group although hitherto associated with the Steno- 

 gyroid snails, is essentially Varicelloid, having the periodic 

 varices, coloration and dentition of that genus. It differs 

 from other subgenera of Varicella by (1) the sculpture of 

 spaced ribs with interstitial striae, (2) the exserted, narrow 

 embryonic shell, and (3) the oblique or very weak trunca- 

 tion of the columella. 



In one species, V. lioderma, striae are wanting between the 

 ribs of the surface. 



These snails live on the ground, usually under or on stones 

 and rubbish. They rarely if ever occur in large numbers 

 and are usually solitary. 



Melaniella brevicula H. Ad., P. Z. S. 1870, p. 379, is an error 

 for Melania (Melanella) brevicula. 



V. (Pichardiella) mandevillensis (pi. 25, fig. 1) has 14,1,14 

 teeth in slightly oblique transverse rows. The central tooth 

 is well developed; the side teeth are of typically Oleacinoid 



