VESTINAUTILUS MULTICARINATUS. 95 



outermost keel of the periphery is always thicker than any of the others, and this 

 in all stages of growth of the shell. 



The surface of the test is covered with fine transverse lines of growth, broadly 

 sinuous on the periphery. 



Affinities. — The present species most nearly resembles Vestinautilus pauci- 

 carinatus, A. H. Foord, from which it differs in its numerous keels and in its 

 very narrow lateral zone. From V. plnguis, L. G. de Koninck, it is distinguished 

 by the first of these characters and by its much closer septa. 



Remarlcs. — " The specimens belonging to this species in the British Museum 

 Collection prove conclusively that the number of keels does not depend upon the 

 age of the shell, as supposed by Sowerby (' Min. Conch.,' loc. cit.), and that the 

 latter included under the name multicarinatus two distinct types." ^ One of these, 

 viz. that having the richly keeled peripheral area, was chosen by de Koninck 

 (loc. cit.) as the type of mnlticarinatns ; to the other I gave the name pauci- 

 carinatus." 



The fragment now before me, described by M'Coy under the name of Nautilus 

 {Temnochellus) porcatiis, has long been recognised as belonging to the present 

 species. Both d'Orbigny ^ and Giebel* make this observation, though they 

 neither of them noticed that Sowerby had blended two distinct forms under one 

 name. 



The fragment in question is a cast of a portion of the body-chamber of a small 

 individual. The specimen measures 30 mm. in length and 20 mm. in its greatest 

 breadth. The characteristic ridges and median furrow are well preserved, and 

 leave no doubt as to the identity of the fossil, which was obtained in the Carboni- 

 ferous shale at Townparks, Killeshandra, county of Cavan. It is in the " Griffith 

 Collection" of the Science and Art Museum, Dublin. 



Finally, Phillips ^ recorded a species under the name multicarinatus, Sow., 

 from Cork and Cumberland, possessing many ridges and furrows, which may also 

 be referred, without much hesitation, to the present species. 



Localities. — Kildare, Cork (the counties only can be given) ; Townparks, 

 Killeshandra, county of Cavan. 



1 ' Cat. Foss. Cepb. British Museum,' pt. 2, 1891, p. 115. 

 " Loc. cit., p. 116. 



2 ' Prodrome de Pak'ontologie Stratigraphique,' vol. i, p. 110. 

 * ' Fauna der Vorwelt,' Band iii, Abth. 1, p. 17J. 



5 Loc. cit. 



