TEESHWATEE SHELLS OE AUSTEALIA. 275 



turreted ; apex not very acute. Last whorl elongate. Aperture 

 inversely subauriform, about half the length of the shell. Colu- 

 mella not much contorted, brownish, reflesed over the umbilical 

 region, and joined to the upper lip by a thin brownish callosity. 

 Labrum tinged with brown. 



Length 6 millim., diam. 2i. 



Sab. Barasdale, Victoria, South Australia {W. F. Fetter d). 



Of this interesting little species I have seen but two specimens, 

 kindly placed in my hands for examination by Mr. J. "W". Taylor, 

 editor of the ' Journal of Conchology.' It is much narrower than 

 i. JBmzieri or any of the Australian species of this genus. Of 

 course it is impossible to say if either of these shells be adult ; 

 but, judging from the appearance of the columella and the callo- 

 sity upon it, I am inclined to believe that such is the case. 



Besides the eight species above mentioned, there are in the 

 Museum three others with the locality " Australia " attached to 

 them ; but as I am not absolutely certain that they are without 

 doubt Australian forms, I think it advisable to await further in- 

 formation before describing them. 



Genus Phtsa. 

 The Australian species of this genus are numerous, some of 

 them being very interesting forms. It is excessively difficult, I 

 may say impossible, for one residing in England, and with com- 

 paratively small collections, to arrange the specimens in specific 

 groups, and still more difficult, either by words or figures, to 

 convey to others the characters which mark the various forms. 

 Therefore I hope that some resident conchologist, who has the 

 opportunity of collecting the shells in large numbers, will take 

 up the study of this neglected group, and, by examination of the 

 animals and large series of shells, endeavour to discover such con- 

 stant distinctions as may enable us to know the limits of the 

 different species. Fifty -two species, including those now de- 

 scribed for the first time, have already been characterized ; but 

 some of these are undoubtedly synonymous with others; and there 

 is every probability that some of those now adm.itted as distinct 

 would fall in the category of synonyms if I had an opportunity 

 of examiuiog the type specimens. 



