38 On the Characters of Astele. 



much elevated as in the generality of that group, while the 

 striae, and even the colour, so closely resemble those of 

 CaUiostoma Australis, {Zool. Journal, V. 331), that an 

 unscientific observer would take them to be the same. On 

 turning the shell, however, with the mouth or aperture up- 

 permost, it is immediately seen to belong to a different genus. 

 There is not the slightest indication of a pillar ; for the um- 

 bilicus is so open, that the very point of the apex can be 

 seen through it : while the elevated strise surrounding it are 

 not only thickened, but granulated in Solarium. From that 

 genus, however, it is equally distinct as from CaUiostoma, 

 because the substance of the shell is altogether perlaceous, 

 although, like Solarium, the margin of the aperture or outer 

 lip is thin. Condensing these remarkable characters into a 

 formula, the genus may thus be defined from its shell : — 



ASTELE. 



Animal, unknown. 



Shell, perlaceous ; pyramidical or trochiform ; un- 

 armed, body whorl beneath convex. 



Columella, none. 



Umbilicus, large, closed only by the terminal whorl of 

 the spire. 



Aperture, broader than high, the margin of both lips 

 thin. 



Astele suhcarinata. Plate YI., figs. 1 and 2. 

 Subcarinated astele. 



Shell broader than high ; whorls above scarcely convex ; 

 marked by 6 — 7 elevated, smooth, convex strise, which leave 

 a flattened margined rim at the top of each whorl ; body whorl 

 beneath marked with concentric grooves, which are decus- 

 sated near the umbilicus. 



Inhabits Tasmania. (Mus. Dr. Milligan). 



