234 Mr. Broderip on a Fossil Volute. 



Art. XXV. Description of a Fossil Volute from St, 

 Peter\s Mountain^ near 3Iaestricht, IJ^W. J. Broderip, 

 Esq., Sec. G. S., F. L. S., S^c. 



VOLUTA ANTIQUA. 



V. testa ovato-fusiformi, costis magnis, longitudinalibus, eleva- 

 lis ; spira mediocri ; columella 4 plicata. 



Fossilis in Monte Saiicti Petri, juxta Trajectum ad Mosam. 

 Icon. Tab. supp. xix. 

 Mus. Hoeninghaus., nost. 



Shell ovate-fusiform, with large elevated longitudioal ribs ; 

 spire moderate ; pillar 4 plaited. 



Fossil in St. Peter's Mountain, near Maestricht. 



Faujas-Saint-Fond, who has described and figured many of the 

 fossils of St. Peter's mountain, has been censured by very great 

 authorities, for inaccuracy, and even ignorance. That he has 

 made many mistakes (such as describing the bony parts of fossil 

 turtles for the horns of stags or elks) is true : but those who cen- 

 sure such errors as these, and even some of graver character, 

 should remember that the position of geology when FaujaS' Saint- 

 Fond wrote, was far, very far behind the rapid advance which 

 this science has made of late years, aided by the new lights, which 

 an increased knowledge of Zoology has thrown on its path. 



Among the fossils of St. Peter's mountain, there is figured* the 

 cast of a large turbinated shell, to which is given the name of 

 '' Buccinite siliceux." Through the kindness of Mr. Hoeninghaus 

 of Crefeld, I am enabled to state my opinion that the cast in 

 question is the cast of a Valuta. That gentleman has, most libe- 

 rally, presented me with several specimens, some of which I have 

 sacrificed to this inquiry ; and, if, among these specimens, there 

 had not been one of the shell itself, I am not at all prepared to 

 say that I could have pronounced the others to be casts of a 



♦ Histoire Naturelle de la montagne de Saint-Pierre, de Maestricht, par B. 

 Faujas-Saint-Fond. PI. xx. fig. a, b. 



