128 Panama Shells. MURICID^E. 



Deshayes has very aptly remarked of this and of the kindred 

 species, P. melongena, that their differences, although not very 

 obvious, derive importance from their constancy ; and, we may 

 add, from their restriction each to distinct zoological provinces. 

 One of these types belongs to the Pacific shores of tropical 

 America, and the other to the Caribbean shores. Mr. Eeeve, 

 however, has unfortunately assigned the Caribbean species to 

 the " Eastern Seas." It is perhaps unnecessary to say that we 

 have collected plentifully living specimens of P. melongena, in 

 Jamaica, where it is a common article of food. Dr. Gould 

 has also received it direct from Cuba, and Mr Kedfield from 

 Carthagena, S. A. 



Station. On mud banks; Cuming! Eeeve. Its analogue, 

 P. melongena, has a similar station in the West Indies. 



Habitat. Acapulco ; Humboldt and Bonpland ! Valenciennes. 

 Shores of Mexico ; Kiener. 

 Shores of the Pacific Ocean ; Deshayes. 

 Bay of Caraccas ; Cuming ! Eeeve. 

 Peru ; Cuming in sched. 

 Mazatlan ; Melchers ! Menke. 

 Mazatlan ; Lt. Green ! Gould MSS. : also Mus. Es- 

 sex Inst. 

 Pacific ; Jay. 



Bay of Panama ; C. B. A. ! 



"We saw this species in a large heap of edible Molluscs, near 

 the houses of some natives in Panama. None of the specimens 

 being perfect, we took only one, which is nearly seven inches 



long. 



146. Ficula rentricosa. 



Synonymy. 



Martini III. pi. 66. f. 733. 1777. 



Pyrula ventricosa Sowb. in Tank. Catal. No. 1614. App. p. 16. 1825. 



Bulla decussata Wood Ind. Test. Supp. pi. 3. f. 3. 1828. 

 Pyrula ventricosa Kiener p. 27. pi. 12. f. 2. 



Lam. An. sans Vert. IX. 5 21. No. 29. (Desh. ed.) 1843. 



