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A LIST OF THE RECENT SPECIES OF SPONDYLUS Linne, 

 with some Notes and Descriptions of Six New Forms. 



By HUGH C. FULTON. 



(Read before the Society, Feljruary 6lh, 1915). 



The following is an attempt to list all the described species of 

 Spondylus and arrange them in groups, according to the characters 

 of their shells. The variation in species of this genus in form, 

 colouration, number of ridges and spines is very great, so that they 

 are often very difficult to identify ; this is especially the case when 

 the specimens, owing to a cramped position during life, have become 

 very much worn or rubbed. 



While endeavouring to give the chief synonymy and references, I 

 have made no attempt to give all, my chief aim being to refer only 

 to such figures as I felt sure represent the species in question. 

 The following illustrated monographs have been published : — 

 1845. — Chenu : Illustrations Conchyliologiques. 

 1848. — Sowerby, G. B. (second of the name) : Thesaurus Con- 



chyliorum, vol. i. 

 1856. — Reeve, L. : Conchologia Iconica. 



1858. — Kiister : Conchylien Cabinet (2nd edit.), (plates were 

 published 1842-58, the text in 1858). 



Spondylus, type S. gaederopus Linne. 



Group A. 



I. — S. gcEiieropiis Linne, Syst. Nat., ed. xii., p. 1136. Thes. Conch., 



fig. 29 and fig. 41. Conch. Icon., fig. 13. Conch. Cab. 



(2nd edit), pi. I, fig. I, and pi. 2, figs. 1-2 and 4. 



Hab : Mediterranean. 



S. gcederopus var. avnurics Reeve. Conch. Icon., fig. 36. 

 Although said to come from the Philippines, this is to me a small 

 light coloured variety of 6". gcederopus. 



2. — S. violacescens Lamk. Hist. Anim. Sans Vert., vi., 1819, p. 195. 

 lUust. Conchy]., pi. 27, fig. 3. 



Hab. : Australia (Chenu). 



As Lamarck made no reference to any figures, we have only 

 Chenu's figure to go upon until the actual type is examined. I have 

 examined specimens which I take to be this species; they are very 

 ntdiX gcederopus, but of a more uniform dark colouration, with shorter 

 spines more regularly disposed. 



