596 



These live in clusters on eucalyptus twigs, and when alarmed 

 simultaneously wriggle their tails, from which they exude a 

 slimy liquid. They are distasteful to almost all birds except 

 cuckoos. He also exhibited some interesting specimens from 

 the stomachs of birds. 



Papers. 



Note on Edenttellina typica, Gatliif and Gabriel. 



By Jos. C. Verco, M.D. (Lond.), F.R.C.S. 



[Read October 10, 1916.] 



1911 : Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict., vol. xxiv. (N.S.), part i., 

 p. 190, pi. xlvi., figs, o, 6. 



1911, Verco: Trans, and Proc. Roy. Soc. S. Aus., vol. xxxvi., 

 p. 238. 



1912, Hedley: Rec. Austr. Mus., vol. viii., No. 3, p. 134. 



Taken in shell sand, Guichen Bay; several right and left 

 valves, and one complete shell. The dimensions of this 

 were 5'1 mm. transversely, 3*25 mm. umboventrally, and 3'35 

 mm. in its greatest vertical diameter posteriorly; so that they 

 are nearly equal to 1*75 those of the type. Mr. Hedley 

 was disposed to think the valves were the internal shell of a 

 Tectibranch rather than the right and left valves of a 

 Pelecypod ; but the species is plainly a bivalve. The valves 

 are somewhat gaping behind. Only the right valve possesses 

 the horn on its umbo. This horn is opaque-white, is smooth 

 and nearly flat on its right or outer side, where its spiral 

 cannot be seen ; but on its left or inner side it is centrally 

 depressed, and its coil can be detected, though here also, as 

 elsewhere, it is opaque and smooth, as though covered with 

 callus. The horn sends a white opaque curved offshoot pos- 

 teriorly into the greenish substance of the valve. There is a 

 very slightly-raised collar of the shell substance where the 

 horn is inserted into it. 



On viewing the closed valves under the lens the dorsum 

 shows no projecting ligament, but a long, narrow, excavated 

 gutter with bevelled edges, about two and a half times as 

 long behind the umbo as in front. Within the right valve, 

 springing from a narrow hingeplate, is an elongate narrow 

 tooth arising somewhat in front of the base of the horn, 

 directed not quite parallel with the border of the valve, but 

 inclining medially and becoming higher and thicker forward. 



