193 
Melania crebrum. M. testd cancellatd, elevato-conica, crassd, 
tenebroso-castaned; spird valde elevatd; anfractibus decern, con- 
vexiusculis, ad basim striis impressis; suturis impressis ; aperturd 
parvuld, ovatd, intus albidd; ad basim rotundd; columelld incur- 
vata. 
Hah. Small streams, Guimaras, Philippines. 
Length 1‘5, diam. •5 of an inch. 
Remarks. —The symmetry of the outline and the extreme regu¬ 
larity of the decussating lines over the whole of the whorls, except at 
the base, are distinguishing characteristics of this species. The ele¬ 
vated portions between the decussating lines are quadrangular and 
resemble brickwork. The four specimens submitted are all " dead 
shells,” and are partly decomposed towards the apex. The aperture 
is rather more than one-fourth the length of the shell. 
Melania reticulata. M. testa cancellatd, conicd, crassd, pal¬ 
lida; spird elevatd; anfractibus septem, planulatis, crasse can- 
cellatis, ad basim striatis; suturis impressis; aperturd magnd, 
trapezoided, ad basim angulatd, intus albd; columelld incurvatd, 
contortdque. 
Hah. China. 
Length 1*8, diam. *7 of an inch. 
Remarks. —This is a very remarkable and distinct species, covered 
all over, except the lower part of the base whorl, with coarse, some¬ 
what distant decussating striae, which rise into nodes and form qua- 
diangular areas. Altogether it is a rough Cerithium-looking species. 
The epidermis is remarkably thin and light-coloured, the upper por¬ 
tion of the spire being quite white in the two specimens under exami¬ 
nation. The aperture is more than one-third the length of the shell. 
Melania aculeus. Lea. M. testd Iccvi, nonnunquam striatd vel 
granulatd, elongate subulatd, crassd vel subcrassd , corned vel 
fusco-nigricante; spird acuminatd ; suturis linearibus ; anfracti¬ 
bus planulatis; aperturd ovatd, intus crerulescente; labro expanso . 
Hah. Siquijor, Naga, Cagayan, and others of the Philippines. 
Length 2*6, diam. *7 of an inch. 
Remarks. —When this species was described by J. Lea in 1832 
(Trans. Am. Phil. Soc.), he had seen but a single specimen, which 
had neither granules nor strise. Among the large quantity of this 
genus taken by Mr. Cuming in his Eastern voyage, were about forty 
specimens of this singularly protean species. Were there but few, 
and these as different as many of them are, no one would hesitate to 
consider them as distinct species. But the large number and extra¬ 
ordinary difference in them enables one, or rather compels one to keep 
them in a group as curious divergent varieties. When we compare 
the large smooth variety with the small variety covered with granules, 
it is difficult to believe that they may have come from a common 
parent, but the nuance is too complete in the series to admit of a 
doubt. 
t ^ was deemed advisable to re-describe this species, so that it might 
No. CCXIIL— Proceedings of the Zoological Society, 
