OF SOUTHERN INDIA. 57 
All our specimens are casts devoid of the shell, except one specimen (Fig. 7), 
which has the inner lip partially preserved. The callosity forms a thickened 
lamella, which is provided with numerous short teeth, disappearing rapidly towards 
the interior, so as to leave scarcely a trace of dentition, when broken away very 
close at the margin. A similar form of the teeth on the margins of the aperture 
may be seen in the recent Cyprea testudinaria. The anterior portion of the shell is 
considerably narrowed, the margins being so much compressed, that there is a very 
small space left internally to be filled with the rock. On the cast this lamellar 
anterior extremity, as observed in Coquand’s figure, generally breaks away, but 
traces of it are visible on our specimens from South India. The posterior termina- 
tion of the outer lip shows a bending somewhat upwards, and indicates a similar 
form of the posterior canal. The comparison of our figures of four different speci- 
mens will show, however, that the elevation of the spire increases with the size of the 
specimen, none of which are as broad as Professor Forbes’ figure of Cyprea Kayei. 
From Forbes’ description of faint lines of growth it appears, that the specimen had 
the shell partly preserved, and must have been, therefore, broader; but the enamel 
surface was certainly either not developed or wanting, otherwise the teeth of the 
aperture would have been visible; and equally the anterior extremity could not 
have been perfect, otherwise the margins were not so united as the figure represents 
them. 
This species seems to be a true Cyprea in Gray’s restricted sense of the genus. 
It appears impossible to give any strictly specific distinction between the South 
Indian and the European form, and we can at present only believe in their identity ; 
we retain Forbes’ name, because that of Cyprea ovula has been by Lamarck used for 
a living, species. 
When we compare Reuss’ figure of Strombus ventricosus (vide Versteinerungen 
d. Bohm. Kreide, 1845, Pt. I, p. 46, Pl. 9, Fig. 11) with that of Coquand, we 
find the form of both to be very nearly the same. The anterior extremity of 
the former is broken away, and the bending of the posterior termination of the 
outer lip indicates a posterior canal. The occurrence of the species in Hippu- 
ritie limestone agrees very well with the mode of living of Cyprea. Geinitz 
(Quadersandst, p. 138) identifies the Strombus ventricosus of Reuss with Cyprea 
bullaria, Schloth. from Faxce. In comparing Sowerby’s figure (Trans. Geol. Soc., 
Lond., V., Pl. 18, Figs. 1—8) of the latter species with our Figs. 7 and 8, it may be 
observed, that they equally differ very little in form, as the spire in small specimens 
is scarcely elevated at all. We have at present no other object than to refer to 
those similarities which are suggestions merely; but we do not hesitate to state, 
that there would be little reason for surprise, if all these forms were shown to be 
identical. 
Localities —Near Andoor and 8. of Serdamungalum in the Trichinopoly and 
near Arrialoor in the Arrialoor-group; the species is rare, only five specimens having 
been as yet found. The two first-named localities are close to the boundary of 
both groups, and they also may probably belong to the latter. 
Q 
