144 NEW- YORK FAUNA MOLLUSCA. 



FUSUS ISLANDICUS. 



PLATE VIII. FIG. 185. 



Murex islandicus. Lin. Gmel. Syst. Nat. 3555. 



Fusus cnrncus. Say, American Conehology, pi. 29. 



Fusus islandicus. Gould, Invertebrata of Mass. p. 284. Var. pygmeus, fig. 199. 



Description. Shell elongated, symmetrically fusiform. Spire regularly attenuated to the 

 apex : volutions eight, slightly convex. Body-whorl equally inflated, its surface covered 

 with between forty and fifty small revolving ribs which are conspicuous through the epidermis ; 

 these become almost effaced towards the outer lip, when the vertical sinuous striae appear in 

 their places. These ribs or revolving elevated lines are reduced to fifteen on the next whorl 

 above, diminishing in numbers as we ascend, the intervening furrows becoming more profound, 

 with very faint traces of vertical lines. Aperture oblong-ovate, half the length of the shell : 

 canal short, sinuous and wide. Callus on the columella broad : lip sharp, very minutely 

 impressed by the terminations of the revolving lines. 



Color. Epidermis horn-colored or soiled brown : surface beneath, whitish opalescent ; 

 within pearly white. 



Length, 2 - 9 ; of aperture and canal, 1*6. 



Dr. Gould has noticed and figured a variety of this shell, which he calls Var. pygmeeus, 

 0-8 long, which has six whorls. Mr. Sowerby considers it as a species. Through the kind- 

 ness of Dr. Jay, I am enabled to describe this shell, which was obtained from the stomachs 

 of codfishes on our coast Farther north, it is found along the shores. It must be con- 

 sidered as a northern species, as yet not ascertained to occur on the shores of this State. 



FUSUS VENTRICOSUS. 

 PLATE VIII. FIG. 183. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Fusus ventricosus. Gray, Beechey's Voyage, Zoology, 117. 



F. id. Gould, lovertebrata of Mass. p. 285, fig. 200. 



Description. Shell subfusiform, ventricose. Whorls five, rounded, rapidly attenuating to a 

 blunt apex : body-whorl much inflated, composing the greater part of the shell. Surface 

 covered with a velvety epidermis, under which numerous minute and regular revolving lines, 

 with a few vertical wrinkles, are apparent. Spire short, not exceeding 0"4 above the body- 

 whorl : lip simple, smooth ; columella with a broad callus ; canal slightly recurved. 



Color. Epidermis chesnut-color ; beneath white. 



Length, 1'95; of aperture and canal, 1*45. 



I am indebted to Col. Totten for this species, obtained from the stomachs of fishes on the 

 coast, most probably an inhabitant of deep water. I am not aware that it has been actually 

 found on the shores of the United States. 



