238 DR JOHNSTON'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF THE 



Animal: tentacula two, triangular, compressed, non-retractile, lateral and su- 

 perior, abruptly dilated at the base : eyes two, external, small, on the di- 

 lated part of the tentacula : proboscis cylindrical, upwards of an inch long, 

 composed of circular fibres, containing a fibro-niuscular sheath, within 

 which lies the filiform rough tongue : margins of the collar and foot plain : 

 penis large, club-shaped, compressed, with a subtcrminal mucro : opercu- 

 lum oval, corneous, concentrically striated. 



I'ho nidus (Alcyonium, seu Vesicaria marina, Ellis, Corall. 84. tab. 32. b. B.), 

 is composed of numerous cartilaginous vesicles or pouches, united by a 

 strong ligament into a roundish mass, which, in size and general appear- 

 ance, may be aptly compared to the nest of the humble bees. The pouches 

 are essentially the same in structure as those of Fusus antiquus, and each 

 contains about four young, which, when about to be hatched, have four 

 whorls, and exhibit all the characters of the shell in perfection. Some 

 authors have supposed that they constitute the Murex decollates of Pen- 

 nant (Br. Zool. iv. 286. tab. 82. fig. 3.) ; but the latter is really the fry of 

 Fusus antiquus. 



At the enthronization feast of William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury, 

 on the 9th of March 1504, there were provided 8000 whelkes, at 5s. per 

 1000. They are not eaten on this coast, but are still exposed in large 

 quantities for sale in the markets of the metropolis. Our children amuse 

 themselves with the shell, which they apply to the ear, and, by attentively 

 listening to its murmurings, they tell whether the tide flows or recedes ! 



" I have seen 



A curious child, who dwelt upon a tract 

 Of inland ground, applying to his ear 

 The convolutions of a smooth-lipp'd shell ; 

 To which, in silence hush'd, his very soul 

 Listen'd intensely, and his countenance soon 

 Brighten'd with joy ; for murmurings from within 

 Were heard, sonorous cadences, whereby, 

 To his belief, the monitor express'd 

 Mysterious union with its native sea." 



2. Buc. breve, shell ovate-ventricose, whitish, faintly banded with 

 reddish-brown, ribbed transversely, and spirally striate; whorls 

 five, rounded, the three apical smooth, apex obtuse; aperture 

 oval, the lip plain, the pillar twisted. Adams. 



Hab. In sand. Berwick Bay. 



There is a faint brown band on the upper and lower margins of the body- 

 whorl. The shell resembles the fry of Buc. undatum, but is different ; for 

 there are five distinct whorls in this, which is not more than a line in 

 length, whereas there are four only in Buc. undatum, when it is three or 

 four times of greater size. This shell is also more transparent, with the 

 ribs better marked, and the stria) less so. 



4. NASSA. LAMARCK. 



Shell ovate, with a produced spire; aperture roundish or oval, with 

 a short canal ; pillar rounded; outer lip thickened with a strong 1 ex- 

 ternal rib or varix : operculum horny. 



1. N. incrassata, shell ovate-conical, brown, \\ith se\en whorls rib- 

 bed across and spirally grooved ; ribs obtuse ; aperture white, the 

 pillar concave, outer Up toothed within, canal very short, oblique, 

 with a black spot at the end, and a furrow between the body and 



