448 MESSRS. MELVILL AND STAXDEN ON [June 18, 



rounded, much impressed at the sutures, the protoconch most 

 delicately decussate, the remainder of the whorls being closely 

 obliquely ribbed, crossed by many spirals, slightly gemmulate at 

 the points of junction, this gives a white shining appearance to the 

 ribs, which on the body-whorl number about twenty-six. The 

 mouth is oval, outer lip thickened; sinus very superficial, but 

 broad, close below the suture. Canal slightly recurved and short. 

 We do not know a near ally to this species, though some super- 

 ficial similarity in the sculpture with PL mitralis Ten.-Woods, from 

 Tasmania, is discernible. Likewise D.compsn, "Wats., though more 

 than twice the length, has the same costal disposition ; but in 

 this species the form, especially basally, is quite different, the 

 canal being more prolonged, with consequent attenuation of the 

 body-whorl. 



Daphnella receptoria, sp. n. (Plate XXIV. fig. 15.) 

 D. testa ehganter fusiformi, late ochracea, rmdtum attenuata, deli- 

 cata ; anfractihus geptern, angidatis, apicali perl&vi, vitreo, 

 puniceo-tincto, ca-teris ad suturas multum impressis, excavato- 

 tornatis, supernis binis, penultimo trinis carinarum ordAnibus 

 spiraliUr pradito, ultimo midticarinato, earinis variis, septem 

 vel octo carinarum ordinibus ; apertura lata, oblonga, intus 

 albescente, labro extus lunulato; columella fere recta, canali brevi. 

 Long. 18-50, lot. 6 mm. 

 Hab. Mekran Coast, Charbar. 



We consider this elegant Pleurotomid to belong to the genus 

 Daphnella rather than to Claihurella, as there is no sign of cancella- 

 tion on any of the whorls. At the same time CI. tricarinata Reeve, 

 carlradata Souv., and hindsii Eeeve show much structural affinity 

 with it, both in the keels and in form. The section of Daphnella 

 to which we refer it, viz. that which has for its type D. trivaricosa 

 von Martens, seems almost to embrace the Claihurella we have just 

 mentioned, and several others relegated to that genus. 



One cannot help feeling, indeed, the more the Pleurotomacea are 

 studied closely, how painfully artificial and misleading are many of 

 the characters which are employed in differentiating the sections, 

 so called genera, and subgenera of this vast assemblage. It 

 is almost too large for the monographer, and so enormous are 

 the number of species annually brought to light, especially since 

 the abyssal forms have been sought after aud procured with 

 greater facility, that we fear confusion will soon be worse con- 

 founded, and "the patience of malacologists tried too far, unless 

 some benefactor of his race arise to study these forms alone as 

 his life's work. 



Daphnella trivaricosa v. Mart . 



P.Gt. Gulf of Oman. One beautifully lamellate specimen from 

 Malcolm Inlet (Kubbatt Ghazira), with the upper whorls varicose, 

 mav be a distinct species, the canal being slightly more prolonged 

 than in von Martens's type. 



