414 



4. Melo nauticus (pi. lxxxii. f. 10, 11, 12.) Voluta nau- 

 tica, Lam. 



" M. testa ventricosa, tumida, subglobosa, cinnamomeo-fulva ; 

 spinis crebris, decumbentibus, inflexis, apicem versus convergenti- 

 bus, columella 3-4-plicata ; epiderrnide tenui, virescente, long. 

 6-8. lat. 4i. poll. 



" Shell ventricose, tumid, of a yellowish cinnamon colour, the 

 spines numerous, close set, decumbent, converging towards the 

 apex ; pillar with from three to four plates ; epidermis thin, greenish. 



" It is possible that this may be only a variety of Melo JEt/rio- 

 picus ". 



5. Melo diadema (pi. lxxxii. f. 16, 17, 20.) Voluta diade- 

 ma, Lam. 



" M. testa, valde ventricosa, fulvo vel castaneo, interdum albo- 

 marmorata, spinis brevibus rarioribus; labro superne angulato; 

 columella triplicata; epiderrnide virescente tenui; long. 6-13. lat. 

 4-8. poll. 



" Shell very ventricose, of a tawny-orange or chesnut colour, 

 often marbled with white ; the spines short and not frequent ; the 

 whorl of the spire angulated as well as the termination of the outer 

 lip. Pillar with three plaits. Epidermis thin, greenish. 



" This shell varies extremely both in size and colour. Though 

 the very young shells of each variety are more or less marbled with 

 white. The animal ceases to secrete spines as it advances in growth". 



Asia. 



6. Melo armatus (pi. lxxxii. f. 15. pi. lxxxiii. f. 21, 22.) 

 Voluta armata, Lam. 



,f M. testa ventricosa, ovata, superne coarctata, luteo-aurantiaca 

 albo-marmorata ; spinis longis subrectis ; columella triplicate : 

 epiderrnide viridi-fusca, tenui; long. 7. lat. 4. poll. 



Shell ventricose, ovate, narrowed towards the spire, of a saffron 

 orange or chesnut colour, marbled with white. The spines are 

 long and generally nearly straight, though they are sometimes a 

 little curved. Plaits on the pillar three, epidermis greenish brown. 



" The spines are longer less distant and more numerous than in 

 M. diadema. They are continued to the edge of the last whorl. 

 The shell is of far smaller volume than M. diadema and measures 

 less across the spines." 



Asia. 



