1871.] 87 



Descriptions of the species of Alycein^ known to inhabit the 

 Khasi Hill ranges, — by Major H. H. Godwin-Austen, F. R. 

 G. S., By. Supt. Topogr. Survey of India. 



[With plates III-V.] 

 [Received 2nd Dec, read 7th December, 1870.] 



The new species now described were all obtained by myself in 

 the various portions of the hills south of jjjie Assam valley, in- 

 cluding the Garo, Khasi, Jaintia and N. Cachar Districts, as far east 

 as the Burrail range on the borders of the Naga Hills. They will 

 leave perhaps but few undiscovered forms of Alyccei from that part 

 of the country. — I have figured all the species, including those 

 described by Messrs. Benson and W. T. Blanford, save one or 

 two, and added a list which brings the number of species up 

 to 17. 



In presenting this paper I must acknowledge to very great 

 assistance I have at all times received from the Messrs. H. F. 

 and W. T. Blanford, and recall the pleasure of those mornings 

 when together with the latter my collection of Alyccei was compared 

 with his fine set, and all doubts regarding their identification set 

 at rest. 



This very distinct group of the Cyclophoridce cannot I think be 

 divided in the way proposed by Benson. The only distinct sub-genus 

 that will stand would appear to be Bioryx ; all other distinguish- 

 ing points whether of form, sculpture, constriction, umbilicus, cre- 

 nulation of the peristome, vary so much in the different species 

 that we find no correlation constant. The simple smooth form of 

 the whorl between the peristome and sutural tube and that cross- 

 ed by a distinct ridge would seem to be the only well marked dis- 

 tinctions we can seize on, and even here we have a passage as shewn 

 in some specimens of A. sculptilis and A. crispatus. 



Alycseus conicus, n. sp. Plate III, fig. 1. 



Shell narrowly umbilicated, turbinate, thick, translucent, pale 

 corneous, pink or white, quite smooth, with, shiny lustre in fresh 

 shells, with very strong regular filiform costulation on the tumid 



