1860.] Contributions to Lidian Malacologij. 121 



grouped ; or that the distinctions between the Indian áreas are satis- 

 factorily explained by considering tliem as " streams" of generic 

 aíñnity radiating from tliat island. So far as our present knovvledge 

 extends we are inclined to look upon the distinction as consisting 

 mainly in the more favorable conditions for land shells generally in 

 the moist countries of the H ¡malayas and of the Burmese and Malay 

 península, in the absence of shells of tlie Pupina and Megalomastoma 

 type in the Indian península, (a circumstance doubtless connected 

 wifch the greater dryness of the country) and in the existence of a 

 generic centre in the island of Ceylon, characterized especially among 

 the Cyclostomacece by forms of Aulopoma and Cataulus. 



The shells described iii the follovving pages were obtained in collec- 

 tions made by Mr. H. F. Blanford in 1857, and by Mr. W. T. 

 Blanford during a short visit in 1859. A fevv other forms procured 

 at the same time are also believed to be undescribed, but as they are 

 of less interest, they must await further leisure. 



Opisthostoma, gen. nov. 

 Testa operculata ? Anfractibus apicialibus obliquiter deflectis, 

 anfractu ultimo constricto, deinde inflato, denique sinistrorsim ascen- 

 dente, anfractibus superioribus contiguo ; apertura reversa, rotundatá, 

 continua ; peristomate duplicato. 



1. — O. Nilgieica, n. s. 



Testa mínima, trúncate pupiformis, auguste umbilicata; spirá irre- 

 gulari, ápice obtusa, obliquá, sutura profunda ; costulata, interspatiis 

 minutissime decussatis, albida, translucens. Anfractus rotundati, 5, 

 quorum dúo primi obliquiter contorti; ultiinus constrictus, deinde 

 inflatus, refractus, ascendens, denique sinistrorsus, anfractum penul- 

 timum contingens. Apertura subobliqua, superne versata, orbicularis. 

 Perisfcoma continuum, incrassatum, duplicatum. 



Diam. maj., 1.3 m. m. 



Alt.,. 1.1 m. m. 



Habitat apud Pykara ad summos montes " Nilgiri" ínter folia 

 caduca húmida sylvarum. 



Of this remarcable little shell the first and only known specimens 

 were found by one of usrather more than twoyears since in the dead 

 leaves of one of the little thickets termed " sholas" near Pvl<ara on 



