1890.] MARINE MOLLUSCA OF ST. HELENA. 283 



Cypr^a spurca, Linne. 



The distribution of this S})ecies is similar to that of the preceding, 

 excepting that it also occurs at the West Indies (d'Orbign}' and 

 others). The single shell received from Mr. Melliss, and named 

 C. turdus by Jeffreys, is merely a small specimen of C. spurca. 



LiTTORiNA MiLiARis, Quoy and Gaitnard (var.). 



Hub. Ascension Island (Q. & G.) ; also R. Trimen and Dr. Conry 

 in Uritish Museum. 



The specimens from St. Helena do not agree exactly with tliose 

 from Ascension. In them the last whorl is rather less ventricose ; 

 the spire longer, and consequently more acutely conical ; the aper- 

 ture is a trifle more effuse at the base, and the tuberculation much 

 less pronounced ; indeed, in some instances, the surface is all but 

 smooth. Jeffreys and Melliss have classed the St. Helena forms 

 under the name of L. striata. King, but, in my opinion, they are 

 certainly more closely related to L. miliaris. In connexion with 

 this species I would observe that L. granularis. Gray, and L. nodosa, 

 Reeve (not of Gray), are synonymous. Some remarks by Watson 

 (Voy. ' Challenger,' Rep. Gasteropoda, p. 57G) and Lischke (Japan. 

 Meeres-Conch. ii. p. 70) have been given concerning the synonymy 

 of L. ffranularis. After a very careful comparison of Gray's much 

 worn type with specimens of L. miliaris from Ascension, I feel con- 

 vinced of their identity ; but I rather incline with Lischke to hold 

 Bunker's L. exigua, from Japan, as distinct from L. granularis. Gray, 

 with which it is united by Watson. 



It is not surprising that Lischke should consider Reeve's L. granu- 

 laris a distinct species from Gray's, seeing that the latter author's 

 type is in such worn condition, so that neither the colour nor sculpture 

 could be accurately described ; and, moreover, it was from an un- 

 known locality. 



The very young specimens from St. Helena have quite a different 

 aspect from the adult Ascension examples, having an angular body- 

 whorl and an effuse columella at the base ; still, in a large series of 

 different ages, the transitions or links are observable. 



LiTTORiNA heleNjE, Melliss. (Plate XXI. fig. 19.) 



Littorina helencE, MeUiss's St. Helena, p. 125. 



Testa parva, trochiformis, fusco-nigra, inferne regionem versus 

 umbilici pallidior ; spira elevata, conica, acuta, lateribus recti- 

 linearibus ; avfr. 8, jjlani, seriebus grajiulorum triluis ornati, 

 striisque intercalatis paucis sculpti ; anfr. idiimus subacute 

 angulatus, ad anyulum serie tuberculorum dvplici instruclus, 

 inferne liris concentricis tenuibus cinctus ; apertura ^jr/?'t'«, 

 rotunde quadrata, longit. totius -jL adcequans, intus saturate 

 castanea, linea basali albida intert'ujjia ; columella pallida, 

 inferne castanea et subacicminate effusa. 



Longit. 9 millim., diam.fere 6. 



Among the shells presented to the British Museum by Mr. Melliss 



