Bulletin - United States National Museum - Smithsonian Institution

62 BULLETIN 91, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Genus MELAPIUM H. and A. Adams.
MELAPIUM BULBOSUM Wood.
Cat. No. 186743, U.S.N.M., one specimen from Port Alfred (Coll.
No. 102).
Cat. No. 250442, U.S.N.M., one from the same locality (Coll. No.
1315).
Family SCALIDAE.
Genus EPITONIUM Bolten.
EPITONIUM AFRICANUM, new species.
Plate 9, fig. 2.
Shell large, elongate-conic. (Nuclear whorls decollated in all our
specimens.) Postnuclear whorls well rounded, marked by narrow,
lamellose, retractive axial ribs, of which 16 occur upon the first to
fifth; 20 upon the sixth and the penultimate turn. These ribs form
continuous lines on the spire. Periphery of the last whorl well
rounded. Base with a single narrow spiral cord, a little anterior to
the periphery. Sutures very strongly constricted; entire surface of
spire and base marked by very slender incremental lines and ex-
ceedingly fine, microscopic, spiral striations. Aperture oval; outer
lip thin; inner lip thick; strongly curved and decidedly reflected;
parietal wall covered by moderately thick callus, which renders the
peristome complete.
The coloration of the type is as follows: A narrow band of brown
separated from the summit by a white area, about as wide as the
band. This band is only present in the intercostal spaces. The
brown does not extend up on the ribs. A second, much wider band
borders the basal cord posteriorly. A third, somewhat paler, is
immediately anterior to the basal cord. In addition to these, a
series of very obliquely slanting brown lines occur on the middle of
the white space inclosed between the brown band at the summit and
the cord immediately below the periphery. These markings appear
much stronger within the aperture.
The type and another specimen, Cat. No. 186837, U.S.N.M., come
from Port Alfred (Coll. No. 204). The type has lost the nuclear
whorls and probably the first postnuclear whorl. The seven and a
half remaining measure : Length, 31 mm.; diameter, 13.3 mm. Cat.
No. 187035, U.S.N.M., contains two specimens from Port Alfred
(Coll. No. 572). One of these is typically colored; the other is pale
brown with white ribs. Three additional lots from Port Alfred are
in the collection of the United States National Museum, Cat. No.
187036, one specimen (Coll. No. 573). Cat. No. 249717, two specimens
(Coll. No. 989). Cat. No. 249718, three specimens (Coll.
No. 990).