FAMILY PURPURID<£ BUCCINUM. 133 



xuture very distinct. The aperture of the dead shell is often found filled up with a conical 

 mound of fine particles of sand, with a large aperture at the summit : in this state, it is evi- 

 dently the abode of some other marine animal. I have received from Col. Totten similar 

 specimens, dredged from fifteen to twenty fathoms in Narragansett bay. In these, Col. Tot- 

 ten noticed the protrusion of a proboscis capable of being extended one inch. 



BUCCINUM OBSOLETUM. 



PLATE VIII. FIG. 163. a. B. — FIG. 164, Var. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Nassa obsoleta. Say, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 2, p. 232. 

 Bucciuum noveboracench. Wood, Index Suppl. pi, 4, fig. 2G. 

 B. ohvaformis, Kiener, Iconographie, pi. 25, fig. 99. 

 B. obsoletmn. Adams, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. Vol. 2, p. 267. 

 B. id. Gould, Invertebrata of Mass. p. 208, fig. 210. 



Description. Shell ovate-conic, subacute. Whorls six, convex : surface reticulated by 

 vertical and revolving lines, and cancellate by oblique folds ; body- whorl often deeply rugose 

 vertically ; suture distinct, but not deeply impressed. Aperture oval : lip sharp, simple, 

 with a few elevated lines not reaching the margin in the adult, and a broad prominence 

 beneath. Pillar-lip arched, with a broad callus, and a prominence or fold at its base. 



Colo?-. Dark olive or reddish brown : lip purple, black. Animal mottled with slate : trunk 

 half as long as the shell : tentacles above the eyes, suddenly smaller, and thread-like. 



Length, • 6 - 1 • 0. Width, 0-2-0-55. 



Var. a. (fig. 164), with a light colored or bluish white band on the body-whorl. 



This voracious little animal is found along our whole coast, to the shores of Mexico. It 

 is one of our most common species. 



BUCCINUM VIBEX. 



Aassa vibex. Say, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc. Vol. 2, p. 231 ; Am. Conch, pi. 57, fig. 2. 

 Burrmiim vibex. Adams, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. pi. 2, p. 266. 

 B. id. Gould, Invertebrata of Mass. p. 310, fig. 212. 



Description. Shell solid, ovate, short. Whorls six : body-whorl with from ten to twelve 

 vertical undulating and prominent costae, which are continued to the apex ; and about the 

 same number of revolving lines, which are most prominent on the costae : suture moderate. 

 Aperture oval : lip incrassated without and within, with two to four prominent teeth internally ; 

 pillar-lip arched with a broad flat callus, which forms a process directed upwards towards the 

 suture on the upper portion of the body-whorl, and is slightly granulated at the base. Spire 

 shorl, rapidly attenuated to an acute apex : canal very short. 



Color. Ashy white to pale reddish brown, with darker colored revolving bands. 



Length, 0-5-0-6. Width, 0-3-0-35. 



