"17.  STROPHIA ALBA Novo.

White Strophia

Plate VII, 17, 17A & 17B, shell; Fig. 9, A, front, B, side; Fig. 11, section.

DESCRIPTION.

            SP. CH. Size, large. Shell, not very heavy. Striations, present. Teeth, two, both short and not prominent. Whirls, 11. Examined 250 specimens.

            Form of shell, cylindrical, with the first two whirls equal in diameter and the third is slightly smaller; from this, the shell tapers to a blunt point, forming an angle of 65 degrees. The striations are numerous, 24 on the first whirl; they are prominent, regular, but are not arranged in lines, are inclined from the right to the left; and the interspaces are about as wide as the prominences. The striations are flattened on top but are not furrowed and the edges are smooth and rounded.

            Aperture, very large and open, measuring more just within than at the entrance. Lower tooth not prominent, .03 high by .12 long, and its position is about central; upper tooth, a mere protuberance.

            Margin, not produced forward beyond the diameter of the shell, and is slightly inclined to the right, beyond the side; it is thin, measuring only .03; and the edges are slightly rolled backward. Frontal bar, not well developed but the striations do not appear within it.

            Color of shell, externally, bleached white throughout; internally, pale brownish purple, fading into flesh color on the teeth and margin.

DIMENSIONS.

            Size of type, 1.42 by .55. Largest specimen, 1.27 by .58; smallest, 1.12 by .50. Greatest diameter, .50; smallest, .48. Longest specimen, 1.42; shortest, 1.12.

OBSERVATIONS.

            This is a very uniform species, specimens varying very little from the type. I am not the first, by any means, to collect this species, as I have seen it in collections, but always labeled with the name of some other species, though why, I cannot well imagine, as it is one of the most strongly defined species found on the Bahamas.

            This species well represents the short toothed form of Strophia prevalent on the Bahamas and in some portions of Cuba; see Fig. 10, where I have given a section of S. alba, showing short tooth, and compare with Plate II, 1B, where is given a section of S. pannosa, one of the long toothed species.

            Known by the large size, open aperture, short tooth, white color, prominent striations, and form as given.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITS.

            I found the White Strophia common on the west coast of Rum Key, near the salt pond, on the low shrubbery between it and the beach, frequently quite near the sand. At this time they were quiet, as the weather was dry." (Maynard, 1889:74-75)