New Gastropoda from Western Pacific — Rehder 
185 
(1959:15) proposed to divide the family into 
two subfamilies, Vasinae and Xancinae, on the 
basis of differences in the radula and shell 
characters. On the basis of the rather funda- 
mental differences in the radula, and in order 
to minimize to some extent the disturbance to 
nomenclature caused by the action described 
above, I suggest that these subfamilies be 
raised to the rank of families. In this way we 
can retain the well-known family name Vasidae 
H. and A. Adams, 1853. 
Benthovoluta gracilior, new species 
Figs. 5 and 6 
description: Shell of moderate size (50- 
60 mm, about 2 inches long), fusiform, white, 
with a thin, light or straw yellow periostracum 
which under the microscope is seen to be 
minutely rough and lamellately scabrous, 
especially in the area between suture and pe- 
ripheral angulation of the ribs. Nuclear whorls 
1%, smooth, bulbous; postnuclear whorls 
about 10% in holotype and largest paratype; 
first 5 whorls show about 8 strong ribs, 
markedly angulate at the periphery and crossed 
by 3 or 4 spiral cords below the periphery; 
area above the periphery smooth in earliest 
whorls, but showing spiral threads that gradu- 
ally increase in strength ; later whorls with 
more ribs (13-14 in penultimate whorl), 
which are less strongly angulated, and with 
fine spiral cords over the entire surface; last 
Figs. 5 and 6. Benthovoluta gracilior n. sp. ; 
approx. X 1. 5, Paratype. 6, Holotype. 
Fig. 7. Surculina blanda (Dali, 1908). Holotype; 
X 2. 
Fig. 8. Surculina cortezi (Dali, 1908). Holotype; 
X 1. 
Fig. 9- Surculina galapagana (Dali, 1919). 
Holotype; X 3. 
