616 MK. J. BRAZIER ON NEW MARINE SHELLS. [May 7, 



covered with large prominent scales above and below, which are 

 largest, conical, and most prominent on the outer edge. The hind 

 legs and hinder part of the body covered with unequal shields ; tail 

 short, conical. 



Testudo forstenii, Schlegel, Verhandl. p. 30, note ; Gray, Cat. 

 Shield Rep. Suppl. p. 6. 



The examination of the species of Peltastes makes me think that 

 the divisions which I proposed in the ' Supplement to the Catalogue ' 

 are very natural and useful to be adopted. 



They may be divided thus : — 



Peltastes. Upper beak with three teeth on the front margin. (Asia.) 



* Beak sharply keeled in front . P. elongatus (with a distinct nuchal 

 shield). P. platynotus and P. stellatus {with no nuchal shield). 



** Upper jaw bluntly keeled, nuchal shield none. P. forstenii. 



Chersinella. Beak toothless, rounded in front. (Africa.) C. 

 geometricus, tentorius, verrouxii, semisulcatus, marginatus, 

 leithii, and grsecus {with a nuchal shield), C. sulcatus (with- 

 out a nuchal shield). 



Dr. Meyer has sent home a very young specimen of Cuora amhoy- 

 nensis which has three very distinct keels on the back of the shield ; 

 our series of this species in the British Museum show that the 

 young is always three-keeled and that the lateral shields gradually 

 disappear as the animal reaches the adult age. 



6. Descriptions of three new Species of Marine Shells from 



Australia. By J. Brazier, C.M.Z.S., M.R.S.N.S.W. 



[Eeceived March 18, 1872.] 



(Plate XLIV.) 



1. Cassis nivea. (Plate XLIV. fig. 1.) 



Shell thin, inflated, obliquely striated, chalky white ; spire rather 

 elevated, apex acute, suture impressed; whorls 6, moderately con- 

 vex, spirally ridged next the suture, the last whorl angled above and 

 furnished with a row of 13 pointed nodules or tubercles, then 

 excavated, and immediately below the excavation ornamented with 

 eleven rather elongated rib-like nodules; columella straight, arched 

 and expanded over the perforation ; lip thin, not toothed, reflexed, 

 the outer edge as well as the columella tinged with orange ; aper- 

 ture ovately lunate, chalky white within. 



Length 1 inch 9 lines, breadth 1 inch 5 lines, height 1 inch 2 lines; 

 length of aperture 1 inch 6 lines, breadth 8| lines. 



JIab. Macquarie Harbour, west coast of Tasmania (coll. Brazier). 



This species was collected by my friend Mr. W. F. Petterd, jun., 

 of Hobart Town, who obtained it some few years ago at the above 



