PARTUL A. 
Plate I. 
Genus PAETULA, Ferussac. 
Testa paroiuscula, acuminato-ovata vel oblonga, basin versus 
plerumque oblique producta , parurn umbilicata, anfrac- 
tibus quinque ad sex, plus minus lavibus, lineis impres- 
sis spiralibus minute insculpt.is, columella, incrassatd, 
plano-appressa, aperturd snbquadrato-ovatd, labro late 
planirejlexo, interdum calloso. 
Shell rather small, acuminately ovate or oblong, generally 
obliquely produced towards the base, but little um- 
bilicated, whorls five to six in number, more or less 
smooth, minutely engraved with impressed spiral 
fines, columella thickened, flatly appressed, aperture 
somewhat squarely ovate, lip broadly flatly reflected, 
sometimes callous. 
Partula is the Polynesian type of that tribe of snails 
which is represented in other parts of the world by the 
genus Bulimus ; and it is questioned by many whether, 
under these circumstances, seeing that there is no difference 
in the soft parts, it claims to rank as a genus. The Par- 
tulce have a strong peculiarity of form, plan of colouring, 
and even of sculpture. The shells are distinguished by a 
comparative uniformity of size and substance, and all are 
more or less conspicuously engraved with fine spiral im- 
pressed fines ; whilst the aperture is peculiar in being 
produced somewhat obliquely, and in having mostly an 
auricular aspect, owing to the callous thickening of the lip, 
which is invariably broadly flatly reflected. 
De Ferussac was the first to note the particular local 
character of what may be termed the Bulimi of the 
Pacific Islands, and the present genus, by which he pro- 
posed to distinguish them, obtained considerable addi- 
tional interest from the species added to it by Mr. 
Broderip, from Mr. Cuming’s gleanings in that locality. 
The views of De Ferussac and Broderip have not been 
adopted by Dr. Pfeiffer, but they appear to be very gene- 
rally followed by collectors in this country ; and the cha- 
racters above recorded for generic purposes render the 
species easy of detection. 
There is one species, P. auricula, which differs from the 
typical character of the group in having two elevated 
plaits entering into the aperture, one upon the columella 
and another upon the body-whorl, which does not appear 
to be a modification of the callosity often present in that 
part of the shell. It is much smaller in size, and might 
prove hereafter to constitute the type of another genus. 
Species 1. (Fig. a, b, c, Mus. Cuming.) 
Partula rosea. Part, testa pgramidali-ovatd, umbilicata, 
basin versus oblique producta, tenuicula, anfractibus 
plano-convexis, spiraliter minute impresso-lineatis, an- 
fractu ultimo obsolete angulato, aperturd quadrato- 
ovali ; castaneo-rosea, interdum luteo fasciata, apertures 
fauce nunc alba, nunc roseo tinetd. 
The rose Partula. Shell pyramidally ovate, umbifi- 
cated, obliquely produced towards the base, rather 
thin, whorls flatly convex, spirally minutely im- 
pressly lineated, last whorl obsoletely augled, aper- 
ture squarely oval ; chestnut-rose, sometimes banded 
with yellow, interior of the aperture white, or stained 
with rose. 
Broderip, Pro. Zool. Soc. 1832, p. 125. 
Sab. Huaheine, Society Islands ; Cuming. 
Distinguished by its acuminated form, which is obso- 
letely angled towards the base, then produced somewhat 
obliquely. The shell is moreover of light substance, and 
delicately coloured more or less with dark chestnut-rose 
and yellow. 
Species 2. (Mus. Cuming.) 
Partula brumalis. Part, testa subacuminato-oblongd, 
umbilicata, anfractibus spiraliter minute impresso-li- 
neatis, aperturd ovald, columella labroque late re/lexis ; 
fulvo-castanea, labro albo. 
The winterly Partula. Shell somewhat acuminately 
oblong, umbilicated, whorls spirally minutely im- 
pressly lineated, aperture ovate, lip and columella 
broadly reflected ; fulvous-chestnut, lip white. 
Sab. ? 
Closely allied to P. Guamensis, from which it differs in 
being of a more oblong acuminated form ; it is of one 
uniform colour throughout. 
Species 3. (Fig. a and b, Mus. Cuming.) 
Partula inflata. Part, testa conico-ovatd, umbilicata, 
spird breviusculd, anfractibus valde inflatis, ultimo an- 
gulato-gibbosis, concentrice rude strialis, spiraliter 
minute impresso-lineatis, lineis undulatis, aperturd 
parviusculd, columella labroque latissime planireflexis ; 
alba vel pallide cinnamomed, epidermide tenui indutd, 
labro albo. 
May, 1849. 
