1856.] 



67 



the shell, contracted below into a tapering canal; surface marked with flexuoui 

 lines of growth and little flat revolving bands about four times as wide as the 

 grooves between ; suture distinct ; aperture narrow oval, angular above and 

 narrowing gradually below ; columella tortuous and having five small, oblique 

 folds near the middle of the aperture. 

 Locality and position. Same as preceding. 



Fasciolaria bcccinoides. Shell elongate-oval or subfusiform ; spire conical, 

 acute ; volutions live to five and a half, convex, last one somewhat veniricose 

 and contracted below into a short canal ; surface ornamented with fine 

 regular lines of growth and small parallel folds, which are crossed by 

 regular, round, elevated revolving bands, ecjual to or greater than the spaces be- 

 tween. Of these bands about fourteen may be counted on the second volution ; 

 suture distinctly impressed ; aperture narrow, oval, or semi-elliptical ; outer lip 

 faintly grooved, and at intervals of about once for each turn becomes thickened and 

 crenulated on the inside ; inner lip closely spread upon the tortuous columella, 

 and forming about the middle of the aperture two distinct oblique folds. 

 Length .96 inch, breadth .49 inch ; length of aperture and canal about .60 inch, 

 breadth .23 inch ; apical angle convex, divergence 54. 



This shell has much the general appearance of a Buccinum^ having the form 

 and surface markings of ii. decussatum (Lamk.) an Eocene species from the Paris 

 basin, but differs from the genus Buccimim in having two distinct f dds on the 

 columella, being in this respect more like Fasciolaria. The folds on the columella 

 arc not stronger, however, than we see in B. fusiformis of Deshays, another 

 Tertiary species. We had once concluded to refer it with doubt to the genus 

 Bticcinum, but refer it to the genus Fasciolaria, at the suggestion of Dr. Gould, to 

 whom we sent specimens. This genus, according to D'Orbigny, made its first 

 appearance in the old world during the deposition of the true chalk. 



Locality and position. Moreau and Fox Hills. No. 5 of the series. 



BncciNUM ? Nebrascensis. Shell oval, thin ; spire very short ; volutions three 

 to three and a half, convex, rapidly increasing from the apex, last one very large 

 and somewhat ventricose ; surface marked with distinct lines of growth, which 

 are crossed by flattened, revolving bands, much wider on the upper part of the 

 volutions than the shallow grooves between, but about equal to them on the 

 lower part of the last turn. About seven or eight of tiaese bands may be 

 counted on the second volution ; suture narrow, channeled ; aperture large, sub- 

 elliptical, angular above, and terminating in a rounded notch in front, the form of 

 which is well defined by a sudden curve in the lines of growth on a broad spiral 

 ridge round the outer edge of the pillar lip ; outer lip very thin ; inner lip thinly 

 spread over the extremely tortuous columella. Length .77 inch, breadth .58 

 inch ; length of aperture .61 inch, breadth .36 inch ; apical angle convex, di- 

 vergence 105. 



Being in doubt in regard to the generic re'ations of this shell, we sent speci- 

 mens of it, and a few others, to the distinguished conchologist. Dr. Augustus A. 

 Gould, of Boston, from whom we leceived in legard to it, the following remarks: 

 " Its general form reminds one of Naiica, and its revolving striae of the subgenus 

 Naticina. If we look at the base, however, we find a revolving ridge which is 

 never found in the Naticidae, but is peculiar to the Buccinid." Dr. G. further 

 remarks that with the exception of the revolving strije it agrees very nearly with 

 the genus Pseudoliea ot Swainson, which is not known to date back further than 

 the Eocene. In many respects it resembles the Eocene Buccimim. ohtiisum of 

 Deshays, from the Paris basin, which forms the type of an Eocene genus estab- 

 lished by D'Orbigny under the name of Sulco huccinum. Our shell has the form, 

 revolving strife, &c., of some species of D'Orbigny's genus, but wants the strong 

 revolving sulcus, which is one of its princip.il characters. For the pres'-nt we 

 refer it to the genus Buccinum, though we suspect it may form the type of a new 

 ge nns. 



Locality and position. Same as last. 



