298 
Polinices mammilla (Linne, 1758) (syn. pyri- 
formis Recluz, 1844). 
Hirase and Taki (1951) pi. 91, fig- 4 [as P. 
pyriformis Recluz]; Tinker (1952) p. 188, 
3 figs, on p. 189; Morris (1952) p. 174, 
pi. 37, fig. 8 [as P. pyriformis Recluz]; 
Kira (1955) pi. 17, fig. 10 [as P. pyri- 
formis (Recluz)]. 
Characteristically 1.25 to 2 inches long with 
an entirely white polished shell. 
Although P. mammilla is common in Mi- 
cronesia, only one specimen in the recent 
collections was taken alive. It was found at 
night by Cloud on the surface of sandy inter- 
tidal flats along the lagoon shore of Uliga 
Island, Majuro Atoll. Edmondson (1946) re- 
ports this species living in Hawaii at depths 
of a few fathoms and occasionally occurring 
on the reefs. 
GEOGRAPHIC range: USNM collections are 
from the entire east African coast from Natal, 
Durban, South Africa, to the Red Sea, east- 
ward through the Indian and Pacific oceans 
to Samoa, and from southern Japan and Ha- 
waii south to northeastern Australia and New 
Caledonia. 
Polinices melanostoma (Gmelin, 1791) (syn. 
opacus Recluz, 1851). 
Hirase and Taki (1951) pi. 91, fig- 1 [as P. 
opacus Recluz]. 
Characteristically 1.25 to 2 inches long, 
with a polished white shell and a dark brown 
inner lip. 
Ordinarily found buried in the sand of la- 
goon shelves or in sand pockets on both sea- 
ward and lagoon reef flats, covered by several 
feet of water. Also lives in sand flats exposed 
at low tide. Presumably preys on pelecypods. 
geographic range: USNM collections are 
distributed from East Africa and Mauritius 
through the Indian and Pacific oceans to the 
Society and Tuamotu islands, and from south- 
ern Japan and Palmyra south to New Guinea 
and New Caledonia. Fairly common in Mi- 
cronesia. Reported from Hawaii but not from 
Australia. 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XI, July, 1957 
Genus Natica Scopoli, 1777 
Natica marochiensis (Gmelin, 1791). 
Morris (1952) p. 174, pi. 37, fig. 5. 
Characteristically about three-fourths inch 
long, with a smooth white calcareous oper- 
culum. 
N. marochiensis lives on a sandy bottom, 
ordinarily in shallow water on lagoon shelves 
or in sand pockets on lagoon reef flats, but 
it also occurs in protected bays and harbors 
to depths as great as 50 feet. Typically, it 
remains buried in the sand during the day and 
emerges at night. 
geographic range: USNM collections are 
from East Africa and the Red Sea eastward 
through the Indian and Pacific oceans to the 
Cook Islands, and from the Ryukyu and Ha- 
waiian islands south to the Caroline Islands 
and Samoa. Not reported from Australia. 
Apparently uncommon in Micronesia, al- 
though common at Cocos-Keeling Atoll and 
in Hawaii. 
Natica onca (Roding, 1798) (syn. chinensis 
Lamarck, 1816). 
Hirase and Taki (1951) pi. 90, fig. 8; Kira 
(1955) pi. 17, fig. 4. 
Characteristically 0.75 to 1 inch long 
with raised ridges on its white calcareous 
operculum. Resembles N. violacea , but its um- 
bilicus is more open above and below than is 
that of N. violacea; its callus is white; and its 
color pattern is in discrete spots only, in rows. 
The recent Micronesian collections include 
only one specimen, an empty shell from 4 
feet of water at Yap. 
geographic range: The only USNM 
specimens are from Okinawa, the Philippines, 
New Guinea, Admiralty and Solomon islands, 
New Caledonia, and from Vitilevu, Fiji. Re- 
ported from northern Australia, but not from 
Hawaii. These records indicate N. onca may 
be found only along the shores of high is- 
lands and continents but not near atolls. 
Apparently uncommon in Micronesia. 
Natica violacea Sowerby, 1825. 
Hirase and Taki (1951) pi. 90, fig. 9- 
