462 



FUNAFUTI ATOLL. 



Fig. 37. 



NASSA SEMITEXTA, sp. nov. 



(Fig. 37). 



Shell broadly ovate, small, strong, opaque, 

 white. Whorls five, of which two are apical 

 and smooth. Remainder sculptured by 

 small, regularly spaced, longitudinal ribs; 

 on the last whorl these number twenty- 

 three and vanish below the periphery. 

 Similar spiral ribs, crossing the longitudi- 

 nals, lattice the upper whorls and the 

 upper third of the last whorl ; on the 

 penultimate there are six of these, and on 

 the last whorl about twenty-five, which 

 are strong and widely spaced on the peri- 

 phery, weak and crowded anteriorly. A 

 deep and narrow groove follows the suture. 

 Aperture oblique, oval, fortified without 

 by a thick and prominent varix, which is 

 crossed by the spiral sculpture ; columella 

 arched, spreading a heavy sheet of callus, anteriorly incurved and 

 terminating in a rounded knob ; canal open, short, in section 

 C-shaped. Length 6, breadth 4J mm. 



A rather worn specimen was found on the lagoon beach by 

 myself, and another was taken by Mr. G. Sweet. 



This species is referred to Nassa for the unsatisfactory reason 

 that I do not know where else to locate it, and yet the material 

 before me is hardly sufficient foundation for the erection of a new 

 genus. A tubercle near the posterior angle of the aperture is 

 characteristic of Nassa, but absent here ; while the channelled 

 suture and heavy varix developed here may not be matched in 

 Nasaa. Indeed, though the contour and anterior notch repel the 

 idea, some aspects of this shell suggest Rissoina. Till further 

 data, and the soft parts arrive, the true systematic position of 

 this shell must, I think, remain in suspense. 



NASSA GRANIFERA, Kiener. 

 Tryon, Man. Conch., iv., 1882, p. 26, pi. viii., figs. 39-41. 



Mr. (jr. Sweet collected one specimen. Melvill and Standon report 

 this from the Loyalty, and the Museum contains it from the New 

 Hebrides. 



COLUMBELLA VARiANS, Sowerby. 

 Tryon, Man. Conch., v., 1883, p. 110, pi. xlv., figs. 1, 2, 97 - 100; 



pi. xlvi., figs. 3 6. 



Common alive in the lagoon of Funafuti. 



Tryon mentions it from New Guinea, Fiji, Hawaii, and Gala- 

 pagos. In this Museum it is shown from Niue, Baker's Island and 

 New Caledonia. 



