MTTRA casta, 

 Chesnut-handed Mitre. 



Gextric Character. — See PI 23. 



Specific Character. 



Mit7'a [T)iv. 3.) testdalbci, lavi, oliv^formi, spiru upertura brevlorc, anfractihus 

 supra tenuiter 7'eticulutis, hast epidei'mide castaneamjltsciamjvnnante, in 

 anfractu basall centralem et latum. 



Shell white, smooth, olive-formed, spire shorter than the aperture, the vo- 

 lutions finely reticulated above, the lower half with the epidermis 

 forming a chesnut band which is central and broad on the basal 

 whorl. 



Voltita casta. Chemnitz 10, p. 138, vig. 20 c D.—figura mala. 



Marlyn Unh. Conch, i. tab. 20. 



Dillui^n Catalogue, vol. \, p. 534, no. 127. 



All the writers I have been able to consult, uniformly describe 

 tais species as having a coloured band on the white ground of 

 the shell. In the Banksian cabinet are two fine specimens, and 

 which have enabled me to ascertain that this brown band is no- 

 thing more than an epidermis, or external coating, with which the 

 shell is only partially covered — a circumstance of very rare occur- 

 rence ; and which, being removed, proves the real colour of the 

 shell to be of a uniform polished white. This, together with its 

 excessive rarity, and the opportunity of giving original figures, has 

 induced me to include it in this work, although it exists both in 

 those of Martini and Martyn above quoted. I have neither seen 

 nor heard of specimens being in any other collection, besides 

 the two above noticed ; and which no doubt were collected by 

 their late lamented possessor on some of the South Sea islands. 

 A striking affinity exists between this and M. zonata figured at 

 the third plate of this work, 

 n. 18. 



