1867.] Contributions to Indian Malacology. 63 



the creeks near high water mark, in brackish water. It was not met 

 with near the sea, where the water was very salt. 



The foot is large, filling the cavity of the shell, muzzle broad, ten- 

 tacles long and fine, mouth not notched beneath. It does not appear 

 to keep to one place and form a hole for itself like some Patellae, but 

 it is very sluggish in its movements. 



Sub-class Opistiiobranchiata. 

 Family BULLID^E. 



No. 23, Haminea tenera, A. Ad. 



Not common. In Bombay this species abounds upon mud flats. 

 The animal is red. 



Sllb-claSS PULMONIFERA. 

 Family AUMCULID^E. 



No. 24, Auricula Judae, L. 



This species is completely blind, as has been noticed by von Martens 

 (Ueber die Landschnecken der Molukken, Malakoz. Blatter ; 1863, 

 X. 126) and as is shewn in Eydoux's drawing copied in Mrs. Gray's 

 mollusca. The same is the case with all other species of the same 

 group which I have examined. In sonic instances, e. (j. the Bombay 

 species, which has received, I believe, a MS. name from Mr. Benson, 

 the eyes may be detected beneath the skin by looking very carefully. 

 (Von Martens observed this in one instance in A. Judce.) Such 

 eyes can, however, be of but little use as percipient points to the ani- 

 mals. There is, however, one group of true Auricxdce^ typified by A. 

 subula, Quoy and Gaimard, in which the eyes are normally developed, 

 the same as in Melampus, Cassidula, and other Auriculidce. A small 

 species of this type inhabits Bombay. The forms belonging to this 

 sub-division appear also distinguished by a more elevated spire. 

 Further observations are, however, necessary before a division of the 

 genus can be proposed on these grounds, as there appears great proba- 

 bility that the two forms pass into each other. 



I found specimens of A . Judce alive under the bark of dead trees, 

 on muddy banks of creeks, in places overflowed by the tide. Unques- 

 tionably, so far as my experience goes, none of the Eastern Auriculidce 

 (Auricula, Cassidula, Melampus, Pijthia, Plecotrema) are land shells, 

 all are met with in places overflowed by salt or brackish water at 

 every tide. They are in fact true estuary shells. 



