OF SOUTHERN INDIA. 121 
repeatedly on the Alpine specimens. The posterior margin of the whorls along the 
suture is generally somewhat more strongly marked, the last spiral furrow being 
usually deeper than the preceding. 
Locality.—N. of Karapaudy in the Trichinopoly district; besides the Alpine 
Gosau-deposits, in the valley of the Gosau, I am not aware, that the species has been 
noticed from any other locality. 
Formation.—Arrialoor group. 
2. NepTUNEA ExcAvaTA, Blanford, sp. Pl. XI, Figs. 1—3. 
1862. Fusus excavatus, Blanford, Mem. Geo. Surv. India, IV, p. 118—name only. 
Nept. testa ovata; anfractibus quinis sew senis, convexis, suturis profundis 
sejunctis, transversim atque spiraliter crassatim costulatis, in superficie cancellatis, 
atque subtuberculatis, prope suturam unisulcatis ; ultimo anfractu spira longiore ; 
apertura elongata, postice acute-angulata, subcanaliculata, antice effusa; labro 
marge undulato, intus sulcoso ; labio moderato, postice paulum expanso, intus levi, 
valde arcuato ; canali lateraliter curvo. 
Spiral angle 70°—80°; sutural angle 4°—5°. 
Height of last whorl : total of shell (consd. as 1:00) ve. = 0°65—0°70 
The peculiar mode of ornamentation recalls very much the similarity of shells, 
which have folds on the inner lip and are consequently placed in the family 
Vouurip#, but there is not a trace of folds perceptible in the present species, 
and as the general form agrees with others of the same genus, we think it best to 
describe it under Neptwnea. The form of the shell varies a good deal, some speci- 
mens being more inflated, short, and others having a more elongated spire, which 
however is always shorter than the last whorl. The ornamentation is equally very 
much subjected to variation; the normal state seems to be, when the trans- 
verse and spiral ribbings are about equal in strength, forming small nodules where 
they meet, and giving the surface a coarsely reticulated or cancellated appearance. 
The square fields between each four nodules are respectively deeply excavated, from 
which fact Mr. Blanford’s name was derived. This regular mode of ornamentation, 
as seen partially in Fig. 1, is however not very often met with, chiefly from the 
commonly imperfect preservation of the shell-surface. Either the transverse, or 
more frequently the spiral ribs appear stronger, forming more or less isolated rows 
of tubercles, and in this way alter the appearance, as will be better seen by a 
comparison of our figures. The broad furrow along the suture is characteristic and 
is never wanting. 
The margins of the aperture are somewhat dilated and thickened, being 
on the outer lip slightly undulated and interiorly grooved, while the inner lip is 
perfectly smooth. The canal is produced and bent laterally. 
This species has, as regards the form of shell, the most striking resemblance to 
Volutilithes limopsis, Conrad (Journ. Am. Acad. Phil. IV, p. 292, Pl. 47, Fig, 24, 
25 
