The specimens from the Solomon Islands are smaller than the type with which, through the kindness of Mr G. F. Angas, I have compared them. They also have the peristome brown, and the basal band is darker.
(14) Helix (Geotrochus) cleryi, Récluz (Plate XXXVI. figs 6, 6 b). The specimens from Santa Anna (var. meridionalis fig. 6 b) are smaller than the type, pale brown above, with a white thread-like line at the suture, and the acutely keeled periphery, paler beneath, especially towards the centre, and have the aperture particularly acuminate at the termination of the keel.
The specimens from Simbo (var. simboana, fig. 6 a) are uniformly pale horn-colour, rather sharply carinate at the middle, and have the peristome white, considerably thickened and almost notched at the upper end of the columella, and the body-whorl is more contracted than in the typical form. The examples from Choiseul Bay, Shortland and Treasury Islands (var. septentrionalis, fig. 6) are all alike, of smaller dimensions than the normal form, thin pale brownish horn-colour, with rather more convex whorls than usual, the carina at the periphery being acute and thread-like as in the variety simboana.
Whether these several varieties should take specific rank is questionable, for, although there is considerable difference between the extreme forms even in the series of nearly one hundred specimens under examination, the gradual transition from one form to another is observable.
(16) Helix (Videna) sanctæ annæ. (Plate XXXVI. figs. 7. 7 b.) Shell depressed-conoid, deeply umbilicated, very acutely keeled at the periphery, light brown, sometimes with a few radiating pale streaks on the upper surface, sculptured with oblique lines of growth. Whorls 5, rather slowly increasing, slightly convex, depressed and margined above the suture, last not descending, compressed above and below the keel, a little convex towards the umbilicus, which is moderately large. Aperture transverse, flesh-tinted within. Peristome simple, a little thickened along the basal margin, with the extremities united by a thin callus. Height 7 millim.; greatest diameter 17, smallest 15.
(25) Cyclostoma (Adelostoma) triste, Tapparone Canefri, var.? Dr. Tapparone Canefri has kindly compared specimens from these islands with his C triste, and is of opinion that they may be considered a variety of it; and observes that the New-Guinean form is a little smaller, its spire a little more slender, its surface more glossy, the colour redder, and the apex of the spire darker.
The shells under examination are clothed with a very thin epidermis when in a fresh condition, exhibiting numerous very fine spiral thread-like lines, which entirely disappear in worn shells and can easily be rubbed off with a brush. For several species having a similar epidermis and an incomplete peristome, Dr. Tapparone Canefri has proposed the subgenus Adelostoma.
(29) Pupina solomonensis.(Plate XXXVI. fig. 9, 9 a.) Shell small and very like P. difficilis, Semper, and P. keraudreni, Vignard. It is of a reddish tint, especially the body-whorl; consists of 51⁄2 whorls, which are the least convex and exhibit a pellucid line, frequently brown, immediately beneath the suture. Last whorl very obliquely descending behind, narrowed below, and flattened somewhat above the aperture. Columella thickened with callus, white, parted off from the whorl above by an oblique circumscribing red line, truncated rather low down. Outer lip slightly thickened and effuse, and a little paler than the rest of the whorl, produced somewhat at its junction with the body-whorl, which in consequence has the appearance of rising suddenly after an oblique descent. Length 7 millims., diam. 32⁄3, aperture 2 long and wide.
(34) Helicina solomonensis. (Plate XXXVI. figs. 11, ll b.) Shell small, globose-conical, reddish or yellowish, pale at the apex. Whorls 4-41⁄2, the least convex above, sculptured with lines of growth and fine spiral striæ both on the upper and lower surfaces, very faintly margined above at the suture; last whorl rounded at the periphery, obsoletely angled near the junction of the outer lip and the least descending in front, so that the faint angulation is visible for a short distance above the sutural line. Aperture somewhat semicircular and oblique, small; peristome slightly expanded; umbilical callosity yellowish or pellucid whitish, defined towards the base of the columellar margin. Greatest width 42⁄3 millim., smallest 4; height 31⁄2.
(44) Melania subgradata.(Plate XXXVII. fig. 3, 3 a). Shell elongate, turreted, rather solid, covered with an (olive?) epidermis, and marked with fine longitudinal oblique red lines which extend from suture to suture. Whorls probably about 10, flat or even a little concave at the sides, shouldered above, usually with a spiral shallow groove and a few striæ near the shoulder, and marked with fine incremental striæ. Suture deep, slightly oblique. Last whorl long, finely transversely striated, most distinctly at the base. Aperture elongate-pyriform, acute above, effuse at the base. Outer lip thin, sharp, accurate, and prominent at the middle. Columellar margin rather thickly covered with callus, united above to the outer lip. Length of two specimens, consisting of five whorls 30 and 25 millim.; diameter 11 and 101⁄2; aperture 14 and 12 long, 6 and 5 wide.