rKESliW.VTKR SHELLS OF AUSTRALIA. 257 



known as M. ci/leJe of Gould, and the whorls are crowned with 

 numerous acute denticles. Tliey are coated with a black earthy 

 deposit, but eshibifc sufficient traces of the epidermis to show 

 that it has been of the same villose character peculiar to this 

 species. The columella is stained reddish, and the aperture is a 

 little paler. 



The M. amarula of the twelfth edition of the ' Systema Naturse' 

 was founded upon Rumph's description and figure, the latter 

 being apparently roughly copied by Argenville. Eumph's speci- 

 mens were from Amboina, by the natives of which island they 

 are called Laholun, Lahorun, and Papeyte, which signifies 

 bitterish {amarula), the name adopted by Linne. If his figure 

 be correct, the shell delineated was of rather short proportions, 

 had the short spines at the top of the whorls well developed, 

 and about twelve on a whorl. 



The specimen in the Museum which most nearly resembles 

 t!ie figure is Sumatran, and approximates much more closely to 

 ic than that figured by Eeeve from the Mauritius. His figure 

 (175 «), representing the dorsal view of what he calls Melania 

 mitra, is much more like Eumph's figure than his fig. 177. 



In the ' Conchylien- Cabinet ' Brot gives seven figures in illus- 

 tration of this species, of which fig. 1 d appears to me to repre- 

 sent very closely the general proportions of Eumph's specimens. 



As far as my present knowledge of these forms extends, I am 

 unable to distinguish any constant differences in several so-called 

 species, such as M. mitra (Meuschen), Reeve, M. villosa, Philippi, 

 M. cylele, Gould, M. crenularis, Deshayes, M. tMarella, Lamarck, 

 M. cornuta and M. cUadema, Lea ; the two latter, however, may 

 differ somewhat in the character of the epidermis. 



2. Mklania BALONNENSTs, Co«>'«f/. (PlateV.fi s. 1-3.) 

 Melania balonnensis, Conrad, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1850, 



vol. v. p. 11 ; id. American Journ. Conch, vol. ii. p. 80, pi. i. fig. 10; 



Brot, Kiister's Con.- Cab. p. 287, pi. xxviii. figs. 14-14 6 & 15. 

 Melania tetrica, Conrad, P. A. N. S. Phil. 1850, vol. v. p. 11 ; id. Am. 



Journ. Conch, vol. ii. p. 80, pi. i. fig. 9 ; Brot, Am. Journ. Conch. 



vol. vi. Append, p. 303. 

 Melania incerta, Brot, Materiaux, i. p. 52 ; id. Am. Journ. Conch, vol. vi. 



Append, p. 303. 

 Melania lirata, Menke {non Benson), Moll. Nov. Holl. p. 9. 

 Hah. Balonne River and rivers of S.E. Australia {Conrad): 

 Port Curtis, Queensland; Upper Clarence River and Patersoii 



18* 



