210 



ternal deposit, so that numerous fragments are found from 

 3 mm. upwards in length, and with the appendix projecting,, 

 resemble candle-ends. When the appendix is absent in the 

 early stages of growth the shell is not unlike juvenile D. 

 lubricatum, Sowerby, but does not increase quite so rapidly,, 

 and has more marked transverse striation. 



Dentalium lubricatum, Sowerby. PI. xxvi. figs. 4 and 4a. 



Deritalium lubricatum, Sowerby, Thes. Conch., vol. iii., I860,, 

 p^ 97, sp. 3, pi. ccv., fig. 56. Type locality — Australia; Reeve, 

 Conch. Icon., vol. xviii., 1872, pi. vii., fig. 55; Brazier, Proc 

 Linn. Soc., N.S.W., vol. h., 1878, p. 370; Lesson, Conch. Cab. 

 (Ed. Kiister), Band, vi., Abt. 5, 1896, p. 14, sp. 22, pi. iv.,. 

 fig. 3; Pilsbry, Tryon, Man. Conch., vol. xvii., 1897, p. 110, pi. 

 xix., fig. 22; Hedlev, Memoirs Austr. Museum, vol. iv., 1903, p_ 

 328; Pritchard and Gatliff, Proc. Roy. Soc, Vic, vol. xv. (N.S.) r 

 1903, part 2, p. 222. 



Sowerby's definition in full is "shell polished, elongate,, 

 white, subpellucid, slightly curved, scarcely fissured, gradually 

 increasing." Brazier adds "off Port Jackson Heads, 45 

 fathoms, hard sand bottom. This fine shell was obtained 

 when H.M.S. 'Challenger' dredged one day off Sydney 

 Heads." Lesson says the apex is whole and is not incised, 

 but gives no authority, whereas Sowerby defines it as "scarcely 

 fissured." Pilsbry supplies the dimensions of Sowerby's 

 figure, "length, 64 mm. ; greatest width, 6 mm.," but it is 

 not known whether the figure was only life size. 



Hedley records the species: — "Several specimens were 

 obtained from 63-75 fathoms off Port Kembla, of which the 

 largest is 32 mm. long; and from 41-50 fathoms off Cape 

 Three Points ; Pritchard and Gatliff extend the locality to 

 Cowes, Port Phillip Island, Western Port." 



Dredged in 40 fathoms off Beachport, 6 good ; in 55 

 fathoms off Cape Borda, 7 good and 7 poor; in 60 and 62 

 fathoms off Cape Borda, 30 good of varying size and 93 

 immature ; in 90 fathoms off Cape Jaffa, 6 good and 3 poor * 

 in 104 fathoms 35 miles south-west of the Neptune Islands, 

 2 good and 18 poor and immature; in 110 fathoms off Beach- 

 port, 3 good and mature; and in 150 fathoms, 1 moderate. 

 No living examples were taken. 



With reference to the slit my material shows that in the 

 very early stage of growth there is no slit, but a central 

 posterior aperture ; the length of the slit may vary from a mere 

 notch to a fissure of 2'5 mm. in length in a shell of 36*5 mm. T 

 or of 8 mm. length in an individual of 26'5 mm. It is always 

 on the convex or ventral aspect. It is sometimes a mere 

 crack, the two sides of v/hich seem in apposition. At others 

 it is an open slit of nearly \ mm. in width; or the posterior 



