PROCEEDI^TGS 



OP THE 



MALACOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LOKDOK 



DESCRIPTION OF STREPTAXIS GRACILIS, n.sp., FROM CEYLON. 



By Olitee Collett, F.E.M.S. 



Read 12th November, 1897. 



Steeptaxis gkacilis, n.sp. 



Testa parva, umbilicata, depresso-ovata, Issvigata, nitidula, diaphana, 

 cereo-albida. ISpira depressa, parum exserta, apice obtuso, sutura 

 parum impressa. Anfractus 4^, convexi, penultimus postice rotundatus, 

 ■altiraus eccentricus, antrorsmn devians, subtus convexus, Isevigatus, 

 politus, reg'ione umbilicari compressus. Apertura' obliqua, semiovalis, 

 lamella iinica parietal! intrante ; peristoma tenue, album, expansum, 

 reflexum; dente uno palatali in margine dextro. Diam. maj. 4'25, 

 min. 3-20 mm. ; alt. 2*5 mm. 



Hah. — Prope Lemastota, provincia TJva (Ceylon). 



The type has been deposited in the British Museum (Natural 

 History). 



This pretty little Streptaxis is readily distinguished from the two 

 other species recorded from Ceylon, by its much smaller size. There 

 is a distinct tooth present at the base of the aperture, and this 

 feature, judging from the limited number of specimens that I have 

 examined, appears to be constant. 



\ 



Streptaxis gracilis, n.sp. 



The animal, which is very shy, is pale yellow, with a rich orange- 

 red colouring on its dorsal surface. The tentacles are bright vermilion, 

 and these show conspicuously through the lower part of the shell 

 when the animal is retracted. 



All the specimens that I have seen of this shell were found in 

 mould among rocks, near the village of Lemastota. The species 

 appears to be quite local ; it is also gregarious. 



VOL. Ill, — APRIL, 1898. 



