BELA PYRAMIDALIS. 297 



Varietal Characters. — Smaller than the type and generally more ventricose, 

 with a shorter spire. 



Dimensions. — L. 12 — 15 mm. B. 4 — G mm. 



Distribution. — Recent : northern seas. 



Fossil : Coralline Crag : Boyton. Waltonian : Little Oakley. 

 Newbournian : Sutton, Foxhall. Butleyan : Boyton, Butley. Icenian : Bramerton. 



Bemarks. — This form, first described by Prof. G. 0. Sars as a distinct variety 

 of B. ]^)iiramii]alis, has been since recognised as such by Mr. Friele, Prof. Kobelt 

 and others. The latter states that it has been identified by Knipowitsch with the 

 Greenland B. Valilii, Beck. Mr. Friele, also considering that species to be 

 identical with B. pyramidalix, says the present variety was found to be more 

 abundant than the one last described, in the region investigated by the Norwegian 

 Expedition. 



In the specimen figured by Prof. Sars, the longitudinal costse are confined to 

 the upper whorls as they are in some of those in the later zones of the Red Crag; 

 in the identified examples from Oakley, on the contrary, they extend nearly to the 

 base of the shell as in Sars' type. 



This feature cannot, therefore, be relied on as a varietal characteristic ; the 

 best distinction seems to be that the one is smaller and has a shorter spire than 

 the other. 



The present variety seems to agree with the shell described as Pleurotorna 

 nebula in Wood's 3rd Supplement of the Crag Mollusca (p. 4, tig. 7). The longi- 

 tudinal costge and the spiral ridges are stronger in the Crag shells than in those 

 figured as B. iiyramidalis by Profs. G. 0. Sars and Kobelt, but Mr. Friele, to whom 

 one of my specimens was submitted, considered it to be the same. 



Var. Igeviuscula, nov. Plate XXXII, figs. 3, 4. 



1872. Bela pyramidaUs, S. V. Wood, Mou. Crag Moll., 1st Supj)!., pt. i, p. 48, pi. vii, fig. 22. 



Varietal Characters.— Bi&ers from the varieties before described in that their 

 distinguishing sculpture is wanting or obsolete ; in Recent specimens, however, the 

 lines of growth are distinctly shown. 



Dimensions. — L. 14 mm. B. 6 mm. 



Distribution. — Recent : Spitzbergen. 



Fossil : Icenian Crag : Aldeby, Yarn Hill, Dunwich. Isle of 

 Man. Wexford gravels. 



Pleistocene : March gravels, Scotland. 



Remarks. — Many years ago I found several specimens of this form in a quantity 

 of shelly gravel thrown up during the construction of the present station of the 



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