1887.] MOLLUSKS OF THE VITI ISLANDS. 293 



Novit. Conch, i. p. 6, pi. 3. figs. 1 & 2 ; H. & A. Adams, Gen. Moll. 

 ii. p. 240 ; Cox, Proc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales, vi. p. 592. 



Scarabus albovaricosus. Reeve, Conch. Icon. sp. 4, pi. 1. figs. 

 2, 6. 



In looking over a lot of about 200 specimens of P. pollex, I found 

 amongst them an example of Pfeiflfer's P. albovaricosa, which does 

 not differ in a single feature from five Solomon-Island s])ecimens 

 received from Dr. Cox. I cannot indicate the island whence tiie 

 shell was obtained, but am inclined to believe it was Kantavu. 



Dr. Pfeiffer and Reeve, on the authority of Cuming, cite Celebes 

 as habitat of this species ; and Dr. Cox, in his valuable paper on the 

 " Nomenclature and the Distribution of the genus Pi/t/iia," says it 

 is a common Solomon-Island species. As it is now well ascertained 

 that many of Cuming's localities are erroneous, the former habitat 

 needs confirmation. 



This species may be characterized by its large size (31 to 44 

 millim.), rather light texture, oblong-ovate form, smooth bodv- 

 whorl, the upper part of which, together with the spire, is marked 

 by short, longitudinal, slightly arcuated grooves. Colour light or 

 dark chestnut, sometimes light fulvous with very small darker 

 irrorations. Tlie varices are white with wide black or dark chestnut 

 margins, and the six specimens now before me all have a large 

 lateral diffused blackish patch on the front and back of the body- 

 whorl. Aperture luteous or whitish. Palatal teeth 4 or 5. 



3. Pythia savaiensis, Mousson. 



Pythia pantherina, A. Adams, var. uveana, Mousson, Journ. de 

 Conch. 186.5, p. 1/7 ; Sclimeltz, Cat. Mus. Godeff. iii. p. 2S ; Pease, 

 Proc. Zool. Soc. 1871, p. 477; Paetel, Cat. Conch, p. 114 ; PfeifTer, 

 Mon. Pneum. (Auric.) iv. p. 348 ; Cox, Proc. Linn. Soc. New 

 South Wales, vi. p. 617. 



Pythia savaiensis, Mousson, Journ. de Conch. 1869, p. 345, 

 1870, p. 133; Pease, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1871, p. 477; Schmeltz, 

 Cat. Mus. Godeff. v. p. 87 ; Pfeiffer, Mon. Pneum. (Auric.) iv. 

 p. 341 ; Cox, Proc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales, vi. p. 613; G. 

 Nevill, Hand-list Moll. Mus. Calcutta, p. 223. 



Not uncommon in forests near the sea-shore at Kioa Island. Dr. 

 Griiffe obtained it at Ovalau, Samoa, and Tonga group. I gathered 

 several hundred examples at Wallis Island (=Uvea or Uea), one of 

 the latter group. 



A solid, ovate, umbilicated (rarely imperforate) species, 21 to 28 

 millim. long, with the striation of P. pollex, and the lower parietal 

 fold simple ; the n])per one is small and trilobed. Colour corneous 

 or yellowish-horn colour mottled with chestnut, rarely uniform light 

 or dark chestnut. Varices spotted with white, and the aperture is 

 luteous. The palate is furnished with 4 or 5 teeth. 



The small size, absence of bands, uniform shape, and the simple 

 lower ]»arietal fold will readily separate it from P. pollex. 



Mousson's name savaiensis is derived from Savaii, one of the Samoa 



