386 DB. S. L. JAMESON ON THE [^P^- 1^? 



Durban (do.), although differing slightly from normal Lingahs in 

 form and markings, are probably merely a local race of this very 

 variable species. I do not feel disposed to describe them even as 

 a geographical variety on the small amount of material available. 



Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. Specimens from Malacca 

 and Singapore in the Brit. Mas. are hardly different from Ceylon 

 examples. I have found typical examples associated with the 

 young of M. margaritifera in a trade sample from Flores. 



Australian Waters. The " Australian Lingah " shell of the 

 London markets, most of which comes, I believe, from West 

 Australia, and the "Bastard Shell" of Torres Straits (Pace, 1898) 

 are referable to this species. There are immature examples of 

 M. vulgaris from various localities on the North coast of Australia 

 in the British Museum. Two specimens from Sydney, presented by 

 the Earl of Derby, are the most southerly record. On the West 

 coast it occurs as far south as Sharks Bay (Saville Kent). Aus- 

 tralian Lingahs closely resemble those from the Persian Grulf in 

 colour. 



New Guinea. The Pearl Shell of the Trobriand Islands, which is 

 fished almost exclusively for its pearls, belongs to this species. 

 The fishing is carried on entirely by the natives, in 0-2 fms., and 

 the live shells are purchased in bulk by the traders. They yield 

 quantities of pearls, mostly of inferior value. The shell has been 

 exported and sold as Lingah in small quantities. The external 

 colour of the Trobriand shell is as in the Persian Gulf form, but 

 the nacre is more smoky and leaden in lustre. I have occasionally 

 found isolated examples in other localities in Eastern New Guinea. 



New Zealand. Gould (M. fucata). 



Japan. Eeeve {M. fucata) (locality doubtful). 



Species 14. Margaeitifbba mabtensi. 



Avicula (Meleagrina) martensii, Dunker, 1872, pp. 66 & 79, 

 tab. 23. figs. 2 & 3 (nom. '^japonica " p. 66), " Mare Japonica." 



'i Avicula pica (Gould), Lischke, 1869, i. pp. 161-2, iii. p. 112 ; 

 Japan. 



The Pearl-Oyster of Japan. The " Japan Lingah Shell " of the 

 London markets. 



In the absence of actual connecting forms I am treating this 

 species as distinct. I anticipate, however, that a better knowledge 

 of the Lingahs will prove it to be simply a local form of the 

 preceding species, from which it differs mainly in its smaller size 

 and in the predominance of brown and white in the external 

 colouring. The interior of the lip is marbled with yellow-ochre 

 and chocolate- brown, instead of pink and purple-red as in typical 

 specimens of if. vulgaris. The form, texture, iridescence, and plan 

 of marking are as in M. vulgaris. 



Species 15. Maegaeitieera nebulosa. 

 Avimla nebulosa, Conrad, 1837, p. 246. 

 Avicula pallida, Conrad, 1837, p. 246. 



