Zoological Illustrations Volume Iii Part 16

Sh.e.l.l ovate, subfusiform, tuberculated, flesh-coloured, with two bands of red spots interspersed with minute dots; pillar 4 plaited.

In "Exotic Conchology," I have commenced, and intend to complete, a copious ill.u.s.tration of this n.o.ble family of sh.e.l.ls; which (if the simile be admissible) may be termed the n.o.bles of testaceous animals, with as much truth as Linnaeus has called Palms the princes of the vegetable world. The Volutes, indeed, are imposing sh.e.l.ls; both from their size, rarity, and their rich (but not gaudy) colouring; and it is not improbable that the value of a choice collection of the princ.i.p.al species, would be equal to their own weight in solid gold.

The species now under consideration is only known from an injured specimen in Mr. Dubois' cabinet; although much rubbed on one side, it presents on the other a true pattern of its original markings; the margin of the outer lip, and the tip of the spire, are both injured; yet, notwithstanding these defects, there are abundant characters remaining to evince its total dissimilarity from any other recorded species.

I have preferred subjoining only the essential generic characters of this genus, as most intelligible to students; particularly as its natural characters are fully detailed in the first part of "Exotic Conchology."

Pl. 162

[Ill.u.s.tration]

ACHATINA fasciata, (_var._)

_Banded Achatina,_ (_3 varieties_.)

GENERIC CHARACTER.--See Pl. 30.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.--See Pl. 74.

(Young.) _Apertura basi integra._ Base of the aperture entire.

Ach. pallida. _Zool. Ill._ _vol._ 1. _pl._ 41.

Since the first ill.u.s.tration of this elegant species appeared, at plate 74 of this work, I have had the means of ascertaining a very extraordinary circ.u.mstance which takes place in the progressive growth of the young sh.e.l.l to the adult state; and that is the change effected in the form and termination of the pillar or columella. In the n.o.ble collection of sh.e.l.ls formed by the late Earl of Tankerville, there is a numerous series of this species; from these I have ascertained, that in the young sh.e.l.ls the base of the columella unites with the termination of the outer lip, making the aperture entire, similar to the lengthened Helices; but, as the sh.e.l.l advances in growth, the base of the columella becomes thick, detached, as it were, from the marginal rim, so as to produce an intervening notch, and thus gives the old and the young sh.e.l.l not only an appearance of being distinct species, but of belonging to separate genera. From these facts, I have drawn the conclusion, that _Achatina pallida_ (pl. 41), is but the young sh.e.l.l (having the margin of the aperture as yet entire) of _Achatina fasciata_; and the three additional varieties now figured, will, I hope, prove an interesting addition to the history of this species.

Pl. 163

[Ill.u.s.tration]

HEMIPODIUS nivosus,

_White-spotted Turnix._

GENERIC CHARACTER.

_Rostrum mediocre, gracile, r.e.c.t.u.m, valde compressum culmine levato, ad apicem sub-incurvo. Nares laterales, lineares, sulcatae, membrana convexa cornea vix tectae, apertura fissa, elongata. Pedes longi, digitis tribus anticis divisis. Halluce caret. Cauda brevissima tectricibus obtecta. Alae mediocres._

Bill moderate, slender, straight, much compressed, culmen elevated, towards the tip slightly incurved. Nostrils lateral, linear, sulcated, partially covered by a convex h.o.r.n.y membrane, the aperture narrow and elongated; legs long, with three toes before, divided at their base.

Hind toe none. Tail very short, concealed by the covers. Wings moderate.

Generic Type. _Perdix nigricollis._ Lath.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

_H. supra ferrugineo varius; mento albescente; jugulo pectoreque pallide ferrugineis, maculis albis, nitidis, ornatis; corpore albo; uropygio caudaeque tectricibus superioribus rufis, immaculatis._

Above varied with ferruginous; chin whitish; throat and breast pale ferruginous, with white s.h.i.+ning spots; body white; rump and upper tail-covers rufous, unspotted.

H. nivosus. _Swainson, in Tilloch's Phil. Magazine_, _vol._ 60. _p._ 353.

I have represented this delicate little bird of its natural size; which is so small, as scarcely to equal that of a Lark. The Turnix inhabits the sandy deserts of Africa and India, and seems to form a race of pigmy Bustards, all the species yet discovered (fourteen in number) being very diminutive. Little is known of their habits in a state of nature, further than that they migrate, and fly with great rapidity. The specific character will distinguish _H. nivosus_ as a species; and I have already given a more detailed description of it in the Journal above quoted. Mr. Leadbeater received it from Senegal.

Pl. 164

[Ill.u.s.tration]

SYLVIA annulosa,

_White-eyed Warbler._

GENERIC CHARACTER.--See Pl. 139.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

_S. olivaceo-viridis, infra albescens; jugulo flavescente; palpebris plumis niveis insignibus._

Olive-green, beneath whitish; throat yellowish; eyes encircled by a ring of snowy feathers.

Sylvia Madagascariensis. _Lath. Ind. Orn._ 2. 533. _Gm._ 1. 981.

White-eyed Warbler. _Lath. Gen. Syn._ 4. 475. _Gen. Zool._ 10. 2. 720.