deep black; bill very small; upper mandible without a notch, and blackish; lower very convex, and, with the legs, flesh colour.

The female figured by Le Vaillant is much less brilliant in all its colours, and without the red mark on the shoulders.

Pl. 74

ACHATINA fasciata,

Chesnut-banded Achatina.

Generic Character.—See Pl. 30.

Specific Character.

A. testâ albâ fasciis latis lineisque castaneis ornatâ; spirâ elongatâ, crassescente; labio interiore semi-circulari, intus depresso; columellâ truncatâ, emarginatâ.

Shell white, with broad chesnut bands and lines; spire elongated, thickened; inner lip semi-circular, depressed within; columella truncated, emarginate.

Bulla fasciata. Gmelin 3430, 25. Martini 9. tab. 117, 1004 to 6.

Lister 12, 7. Seba, tab. 39. fig. 62 to 74. Gualtieri, tab. 6. fig. C.

Having figured two or three species allied to this shell, it appears advisable to subjoin a more particular notice of it, and to point out those characters by which it may be detected through its numerous variations: this has been endeavoured in the specific character now formed, and appears to rest principally on the inner lip, which is always semicircular, down which, if closely examined inside, there is a depression as if it had been pared down with a knife; the base of the pillar also is so strongly truncated as to appear notched, and the broadest part of the mouth is always in the middle; these characters have been very ill attended to in all the figures above quoted, of which Seba gives no less than eleven, which vary only in the disposition and number of their bands.

Gualtieri's figure at tab. 6. fig. D, is an admirable representation of A. pallida, which, not having his work before me at the time, I could not quote; the other at C is a very good one of the present shell. The upper drawing is from one in my own cabinet; the lower is in the possession of Mr. C. Dubois, who is continually adding to his fine and valuable collection.

It is almost unnecessary to contradict the opinion of some writers who have fancied this a fresh-water shell. It is not uncommon, but seldom seen in perfection.

Pl. 75

NATICA spadicea,

Banded Natica.

Generic Character.

Testa subglobosa seu ovalis, umbilicata. Spira depressa, brevissima. Columella umbilici medio terminans. Apertura semiorbicularis, operculo corneo vel testaceo clausa. Animal marinum, pede maximo; oculis ad basin duorum tentaculorum simplicium positis.

Typus Genericus Nerita Glaucina Pennant.

Shell nearly globose, or oval, umbilicated. Spire depressed, very small. Columella terminating in the middle of the umbilicus. Aperture semi-circular, operculum either horny or testaceous. Animal marine, with a large foot; the eyes placed at the base of two simple tentacula.

Generic Type Nerita Glaucina Pennant, &c.

Specific Character.

N. testâ sub-globosâ, fuscâ, albo fulvoque fasciatâ, juxta suturam striatâ; labio exteriore suprà leviter emarginato; umbilico magno, aperto; columellâ obsoletè terminante.

Shell sub-globose, striated near the suture, brown, banded with white and fulvous; outer lip above slightly emarginate; umbilicus large, open; pillar termination nearly obsolete.

Martini 5. pl. 187. fig. 1872 & 3. fig. 1874 & 5? pl. 188. fig. 1896, 8 & 9.

Seba, pl. 38. fig. 66. pl. 41. fig. 14, 15.

The Shells of this genus are composed of such of the Linnæan Nerits as are umbilicated, from which latter they essentially differ, both in the organization of the animal and the construction of the shell, which is either closed by a shelly or horny operculum.

The species are numerous, and are found both in temperate and tropical seas; two or three inhabit our own coasts, but by far the greater number are found in the Asiatic Ocean. They are subject to variation in their colour; and this, joined with a general resemblance in form, has rendered the discrimination of the species very difficult. I have, however, remarked, that the various modifications of the umbilicus, and the termination of the pillar (which is indicated in many species by an elevated ridge or rib within the umbilicus) is a certain and constant indication, presenting the same peculiarity through all the individuals of a species, even in the young state. This termination of the pillar has been mistaken for the inner lip, which, on the contrary, is always above the umbilicus, which, if closed, is not closed by the lip, but by the thickened termination of the pillar or columella.

The two most striking varieties are here figured of this species, which is sufficiently described in the specific character. I believe it is found both in the Mediterranean and Red Seas.

Pl. 76

MEROPS Savignii,

Black-capped Bee-eater.

Generic Character.—See Pl. 8.

Specific Character.

M. viridis, subtus albescens, uropygio caudâque cæruleis; vertice, strigâ oculari, fasciâque latâ collari nigris; mento, superciliisque albis; rectricibus mediis elongatis.

Green; beneath whitish; rump and tail blue; crown of the head, eye stripe, and broad band across the neck, black; chin and eye-brows white; two middle tail feathers lengthened.