288 Mr. E. A. Smith on a new Species o/*Vitrina. 



The skin is smooth and shining, the surface under the 

 microscope presenting the appearance of very minute curved 

 scales. Colour fulvous. Length \ inch. 



From what has been said it seems clear that the genus Zia 

 must be added to the genera Ligia and Ligidhim^ whicli, 

 according to Messrs. Bate and Westwood, have hitherto 

 constituted the subfamily Ligitnce in the family Oniscidm. 



Supposing this species to have been hitherto unobserved, I 

 venture to name it Zia Saundersii^ in honour of an intimate 

 and dear friend, W. Wilson Saunders, Esq., F.E.S., whose 

 example, assistance, and encouragement have ever been at the 

 service of the students of science, whether making the modest 

 efforts of beginners or pursuing the most elaborate and im- 

 portant inquiries. 



XXXII. — Description of a new Species belonging to the Genus 

 Vitrina. By Edgar A. Smith, F.Z.S., Zoological Depart- 

 ment, British Museum. 



The specimens upon which the present species is founded were 

 sent by Mr. T. Kirk (Secretary of the Auckland Institute, 

 New Zealand) to the British Museum to Professor Owen 

 for identification, accompanied by the following note : — " The 

 enclosed Vitrina-Y[k.& shell I received from Sunday Island 

 (Kermadees) during the eruption of 1871 ; the two or three 

 folks in the island partly lived on the animal." 



This volcanic island, sometimes called Baoul, is one of the 

 Kermadee group, and situated about 550 miles to the north- 

 east of Auckland, New Zealand. 



Vitrina Icermadeensis. 



V. testa depressa, tenuissiina, pellucida, nitida, vitrea, epidermide 

 pertenui virenti- cornea amicta, incrementi lineis levissime, prope 

 suturam fortius, striata ; anfr. 3|, celeriter accrcscentes, primi 2^ 

 convexiusculi, supra ultimum pauxillulum prominentes, ultimus 

 magnus, superne vix depressus, ad peripheriam mtundatus, basi 

 subinflatus, versus aperturam non descendens ; sutura aliquanto 

 depressa, angustissime marginata ; aperturalunato-ovata, paululum 

 obli qua, fere horizontalis; perist. epidermide duplicata incrassatum, 

 basi recedens, marginibus approximatis. 



Alt. 4| mill.; diam. maj. 9^, miu. 7|. 



This is a very fragile species, of a greenish horn-colour, 

 very glossy and transparent, so much so that the outline of the 

 body-whorl is quite apparent through the upper surface until 

 its junction witli the apex. 



No spiral sculpture can be traced by using an ordinary lens, 



