SMITH : TWO SPECIES OF MADAGASCAN HELICES. 339 



whorl separates this from all the Madagascar species of the Ampelita 

 group of Helices. Only a single specimen was collected by Mr- 

 Cowan and from this I cannot say to what extent the upper 

 margin of the peristome may at times be expanded, for in this 

 particular part the shell is somewhat imperfect. 



Helix (Ampelita) Shavi. 



Shell thinnish, with a funnel-like umbilicus, orbicular, very 

 flat above, very acutely keeled, sculptured with oblique subflexuous 

 lines of growth and most minute spiral strias, and exhibiting, 

 especially upon the upper surface an irregular fine granulation. 

 Epidermis yellowish-olivaceous, thin. Spire very little raised, with, 

 the apex sunk below the penultimate whorl. Volutions four, the 

 three first feebly convex, the last very sharply carinated above the 

 middle, visibly concave on each side of the keel, with a brown line 

 at the suture and with or without a stripe of the same colour upon 

 the carina. Beneath it is only a little convex, and forms with the 

 umbilicus which is stained with violet brown, a decided angulation. 

 Towards the aperture it suddenly descends from the carina about 

 3I millimeters. Aperture transverse, horizontal, white, exhibiting 

 the sutural brown band and that at the periphery, when present. 

 Peristome more or less stained with violet brown, everywhere re- 

 flexed, the extremities much converging, upper margin oblique, 

 straightish, lower regularly curved forming an angle at the outer 

 extremity. Columella slopingly arcuate, violet-brown. Greatest 

 diameter 27 mill., smallest 22., altitude 12. 



This species has the general facies of H. xystera or H. 

 Cazenarettt, both inhabiting Madagascar. The former is a larger 

 species, more widely umbilicated, with a non-descending last whorl 

 and a malleated upper surface. The latter, also possessing the 

 two last mentioned characteristics, is more narrowly umbilicated, 

 more solid, and in fact appears to differ but very slightly from IT. 

 lancula. 



