MELVILL : ADDITIONS TO THE GENUS I.ATIKUS. 165 



typical Latiri that the Arctic ^^///if/(? Kroyer does to Cam-el/aria Lam., 

 whilst others relegate it to tlie neighbourhood of Semi/usus Swa'mson, 

 and Ptychatractiis Stimpson, in the family Turbinellidfe. 



Certain of the additional species are very conspicuous and 

 handsome, notably L. prcestantior MelV., with its elegant contour, 

 ample dimensions, and warm Indian-red coloration. L. maximus 

 Sowb. is also very noticeable, especially for size. L. abnorinis and 

 singuiaris, both of Sowerby, are bizarre and unusual in form, while 

 Z. arabicus Melv. is so like a Fiistis, superficially, as, at first, to have 

 been included in that genus. Others, e.g., L. rudolphi Biiiz. and 

 corallinus Melv., rank amongst the smallest species of the genus ; and 

 of the three new species, L. hesierm and jeatiia are both select and 

 brightly coloured species, \^\\\\& photiforiins,7!<.% its name implies, bears 

 a resemblance to a member of the beautiful genus Phos. 



It is an enigma why so attractive an assemblage of shells has never, 

 in the past, received the due attention it deserved. Both in sculpture, 

 variety of form, size, colour, and other characteristics, they are nearly 

 all of surpassing interest, and we trust that in the near future some 

 student will be led to examine the recent species in connection and 

 comparison with the many fossil forms now described, and so pre- 

 pare the way for an exhaustive monograph of the whole group. The 

 tertiary and post-tertiary species are particularly numerous and varied. 



In my first account of the genus I endeavoured to preserve the 

 genus Peristernia as separate from Latiriis. The extremes may be 

 distinct, but they naturally blend together with intermediates, and it 

 is more convenient to treat all the species as coming under one 

 generic headship. When the anatomy is more fully known perhaps 

 some permanent alteration may be made ; but the proposed grouping 

 seems natural, and, in my humble opinion, the genus is as well fixed" 

 as, say, Mitra, or Margineila, or others with plaited columella;. 



I. Latirus abnormis Sowb. 

 Latinis ahnoriiiis Sowerby, yti?//';/. of Conch., vii., p. 369, 1894. 



„ ,, ,, " Marine Shells of S. Africa" (Appendix), 



pi. vi., f 7. 

 Latirus imhricatus Sowb., "Marine Investig. : South Africa," p. 96, 



pi. ii., f. I, 1902. 

 Hab.: Natal. 



As its name implies, a somewhat anomalous species, showing no 

 columellar plication. It is of a fair size, the type measuring long. : 57, 

 lat. : 23 mm. As just noted above, Mr. Edgar A. Smith has united 

 with it, as synonymous, the Z. iiiib?-icatus of the same author, also 

 reported from South African seas (cf. Proc. Malac. Soc, v., p. 369). 



