1870. | DR. W. BAIRD ON PROTOMA KNOCKERI. 59 
3. Description of a new Genus and Species of Shells from 
Whydah, on the West Coast of Africa, with some Re- 
marks on the Genus Proto of Defrance. By W. Bairp, 
M.D., F.R.S., &c. 
The British Museum has just received, through the kindness of 
Mrs. Knocker, of Exmouth, a series of shells collected by her late 
husband, Captain H. H. Knocker, R.N., C.M.Z.S., at Whydah and 
the Bight of Benin on the west coast of Africa. Amongst these is 
a species belonging to the family Turritellidze, which I at first con- 
sidered might be referred to the genus Proto of Defrance. Upon 
more mature examination, however, of that genus as established by 
the French author mentioned above, I now believe this mollusk to be 
distinct and fairly entitled to be described as a new genus. I have 
therefore named it Protema, from its resemblance to one of the spe- 
cies referred to that genus and from the slit in the under lip*. It 
may be thus defined :— 
PROTOMA, nov. gen. 
Testa turrita, Apertura ovalis, labro inferiore acute inciso. 
Operculum circulare, corneum, multispirale. 
Pio. 

Fig. 2 Protoma knockeri, Baird. 
, dorsal aspect. 
3 Operculum. 


* Proto and Topi, a slit. 
