1869.] 125 



Contributions to Indian Malacology, No. X. Descriptions of new species 

 of Cyclophoridae, o/'Ennea and Streptaxis jfrom the hills of Southern 

 and Soutli-ioestem India; by William T. Blanford, A. H. S. II, 

 F. G. S., Sf'c. 



[Eead 3rd February,— received 18th February, 1869.*] 



The shells described in the following pages are some very interest- 

 ing forms discovered by Major Beddome and Mr. Fairbank in South 

 Canara, the Pulney hills, and the ranges on the frontier of Travancore. 

 All belong to the Malabar province, a remarkable zoological " out- 

 lier" of the Malay fauna. 



The first three species, all of which have been discovered by Major 

 Beddome in the hills of Travancore and the neighbourhood, differ 

 from any previously described, so much, as to constitute a section or 

 sub-genus by themselves. Instead of the colouring so generally 

 characteristic of Gyclophorus and its allies, these species have a pecu- 

 liar olivaceous epidermis, highly polished in two of the species, much 

 as in JPupina and the allied genera, while in the third form the shell 

 has a silky appearance, due to minute striation. Another peculiar 

 character is the constant occurrence of two keels, one just at the 

 periphery, the other at or near the base of the shell, the two being 

 separated by a smooth space. Other spiral sculpture is found in two 

 of the species, but these two keels are the most conspicuous ; less so, 

 however, in Gyclophorus Beddomei, than in the other forms. The 

 operculum in all three species, closely resembles that in the Burmese 

 type of Pterocyclos. It it horny and double, with the edges of the 

 whorls composing it free, and is surrounded by a marginal groove 

 between the free edge of the outermost whorl, and that of the inner 

 membranaceous lining of the operculum. It differs from the Ptero- 

 cyclos opercula in being concave externally, instead of flat or convex. 

 Too much importance, however, must not be assigned to these minute 

 characters of the operculum. 



The new section appears to me quite as distinct from Gyclophorus, 

 as Cyclotus and Leptopoma are, and not quite so well distinguished 

 as Pterocyclos ; I, therefore, class it as a subgenus of Gyclophorus. 



* Printed in this number of the Journal by special order of the Council. 



