1885.] FROM THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. 601 



41. Melania fastigiella, Reeve. (Plate XXXVII. fig. 1.) 



Hah. "Imbedded in a dark calcareous loam exposed in the bank 

 of a large stream at Sulagina on the north coast of San Christoval." 



The specimens found by Mr. Guppy are not quite so slender as 

 the type figured by Reeve, but agree with it exactly in all other 

 respects. An important feature not referred to by Reeve is the 

 presence of fine transverse liree upon the body-whorl below the spined 

 keel. The fine costse and spiral striae on the uppermost volutions 

 are very constant in all specimens ; and therefore I think it most pro- 

 bable that Brot's shell (Monogr. Melania, in Couch. -Cab. pi. 38. 

 f. 2a) does not belong to this species. 



Mr. Guppy was unable to discover any living specimens ; those 

 which were obtained being, however, well preserved and even retain- 

 ing a certain amount of the epidermis, which is of a "yellowish 

 brown " colour as described by Reeve, and not of the sombre tint 

 depicted in his figure. 



42. Melania, sp. (Plate XXXVII. fig. 2.) 



Hah. Found "imbedded in a dark calcareous loam exposed in the 

 bank of a large stream at Sulagina on the north coast of San 

 Christoval" {Guppy). 



Only one dead specimen was obtained of this species. It is 

 ovately fusiform, consists of about 8 or 9 whorls, is longitudinally 

 plicate, the fulds being produced into short spines just beneath a 

 depression a little below the suture. The plicae are crossed by 

 about three spirally striated grooves, and the body-whorl is strongly 

 transversely ridged and grooved below the middle ; the furrows also, 

 as in the upper whorl, being finely striated in the same direction. 

 Length 26 miUim., width 9|. 



43. Melania verrucosa, Hinds. 



Hab. The same as Mel. fastigiella. 



The three shells obtained I am unable to separate from this species, 

 which was described originally from specimens from New Ireland, 

 a little to the north of the Solomon group. M. damonis of Brot 

 appears to be very closely allied to this species, if not the same. 

 As stated by the latter author, some specimens are more slender than 

 others, as shown by the following measurements of two specimens 

 with an equal number of whorls : length 20 millini., diameter 7g ; 

 length 22 millim., diameter 6g. 



44. Melania subgradata. (Plate XXXVII. figs. 3, 3 «.) 



Shell elongate, turreted, rather solid, covered with au (olive ?) 

 epidermis, and marked with fine longitudinal oblique red lines which 

 extend from suture to suture. Whorls probably about 10, flat or 

 even a little concave at the sides, shouldered above, usually with a 

 spiral shallow groove and a few striae near the shoulder, and marked 

 with fine incremental striae. Suture deep, slightly oblique. Last 

 whorl long, finely transversely striated, most distinctly at the base. 



