1862.] MR. A. ADAMS ON JAPANESE OBEHSCIN.E. 231 



tenuibus nodulosis radiantibus et striis vix elevatis conce7itricis 

 cremdatis concinne decussafa, latere ])ostieo lonyiore et dila- 

 tato, iimbonibus subacutis, ejpiderinide jfusco-joilosa pai-tim ob- 

 tecta. 

 TIab. Lizard Island, Torres Straits. 



An oblique species, most nearly resembling L. multistriata, with 

 the surface of the valves very neatly sculptured with numerous fine 

 radiating ribs, crossed by slightly elevated concentric lines. 



9. LiMOPSis wooDWARDi, A. Adams. 



L. testa orbiculari, subcequilaterali, convexa, marginibus crenulatis, 

 Candida, eostellis acutis tenuibus radiantibus et liridis concen- 

 tricis crenulatis decussata, eostellis breviculis circa marijinem 

 ventralem interpositis ad medium valvainmi evanidis, linea car- 

 dinis regulariter arcuata, dentibus acutis lamellatis prominen- 

 tibus, fossa trigonali conspicua, margine ventrali intus laevi. 

 Hab. Lizard Island, Torres Straits. 



This is a pure-white species, Avith the surface of the valves very 

 delicately sculptured ; the hinge-teeth are sharp and prominent, and 

 the concentric liras cause the radiating ribs to assume a nodulous 

 character. 



6. On the Species of Obeliscin^ found in Japan. 

 By Arthur Adams, F.L.S., etc. 



In this subfamily of Pyramidellidce, the members of which are 

 nearly all of small size, and which appear to be tolerably numerous 

 in the seas of Japan, the form of the shell is subulate, the texture 

 vitreous, and the surface usually polished. Nearly all the species of 

 Obeliscus and Syimola are prettily adorned with a spiral red-brown 

 zone, which usually marks a line at the sutures, and crosses the last 

 whorl at the periphery. The Syniolcs are usually of small dimen- 

 sions, and the inner lip is always furnished with a single parietal 

 plait : the Styloptyg^nce have the peritreme entire, as in Chrysal- 

 lida, but the whorls are not plicate. In most of the specimens 

 of Syrnola found, the apex of the spire is seen to be decollated. 

 This is owing to the extreme fragility of the nucleolar whorls, which 

 in some species form a cylindrical transparent mucro, terminating in 

 a little globose, decumbent, sinistral whorl. In S. cinctella, the 

 mucro of v/hich is very elongated, the number of similar pellucid 

 niicleolar whorls is about eight. 



I have not hitherto been able to trace any connexion between the 

 form or character of the shell and the internal transverse grooves 

 seen in the whorls of so many species. Similar grooves are met v/itli 

 in several other genera of Pyramidellidce, and also of Helicidce and 

 Ellobiidce. That they serve some good purpose in the economy of 

 the animal is no doubt true, although at present it has not been 

 detected by our observation. 



The species of Syrnola usually inhabit deep water, and live on a 



