— 23 
thus gives room to re-establish for it a subgenus now almost 
forgotten, proposed by Swainson in 1840 ( Treatise on Malaco- 
logy, p. 333) under the name of Gonospira, and characterised 
by this author but indifferently in other respects, in a concho- 
logical point of view. 
“ The number of rows of teeth (67 in each) could not be po- 
sitively ascertained as the lingual ribbon was not perfect when 
Mr Bland made his examination. The following description 
will show how we believe the genus Gonospira should be cha- 
racterized : — 
“ Genus Gonospira. 
“ Animal carnivorum. Maxilla nulla. Radula elongata, 
latiuscula lanceolata, seriebus valde obliquus con3tituta, Dens 
medianus elongatus, sub-irregularis unicuspidatus, simplex. 
Dentes laterales Glandinarum denribus similes ; Dentes mar- 
ginales elongate, graciles, conferti. Formula 36. 1. 36. et 67. 
Testa cylindrica, crassa, costulata, epidermide nitidula obduc- 
ta, Glandinarum more interdum lougitudinaliter strigata apice 
obtusa. Peristoma continuum, incrassatum, marginibus callo 
concolore junctis. Apertura subovata. 
“ Typus. Piipa palanga (Lesson.) 
“ The accompanying sketch gives the lingual plate and 
teeth natural size and magnified. The habits of the Gonospira 
are peculiar. I have never found them on grasses or plants, 
nor yet alive on the surface of the ground, but always amongst 
the debris of fallen leaves and decomposed vegetable matter at 
the roots of trees. 
“ It is supposed that many other molluscs new placed in 
the genus Pupa, and even in that of Gibbus, will be found on 
careful anatomical examination to belong to the carnivorous 
molluscs. It appears to me that the whole classification of 
the terrestrial shells of Mauritius requires revision and correc- 
tion. The study of the dentition of tho animals, combined 
with the peculiar characteristics of the shells and animals, will 
be of the highest importance in their proper classification, and 
will accurately define the position of many now doubtful 
genera. 
“ I sent some live shells at the beginning of this year to 
