NASSID.B. 345 



Pyrula Carica was wrongly given by Turton, in his 

 f Conchological Dictionary/ as a Dublin-Bay shell ; it 

 is a native of the North-American coasts. His relation 

 of the supposed discovery made my eyes when youthful 

 expand with prospective joy, not unmixed with wonder. 

 Now the latter feeling is almost extinct — perhaps both 

 of them. 



• Family XXIX. NAS'SID^E, Stimpson. 



Body spiral, usually short ; in other particulars agreeing 

 with the last two families. Sexes also separate. 



Shell conic- oval or oblong, of small size, variously sculp- 

 tured: spire more or less turreted: canal short and abrupt: 

 pillar plicated : operculum horny, increasing by semielliptical 

 or curved layers ; nucleus blunt and terminal. 



This family has been founded lately, by Professor 

 Stimpson, on an odontological basis, "on account of the 

 arched form and very numerous denticles of the rhachi- 

 dian tooth of the lingual ribbon." Mr. Macdonald had 

 previously adduced another character of the same kind, 

 in distinguishing Nassa from Buccinum, viz. " the ab- 

 sence of smaller denticles between the two principal 

 fangs of the pleurae." The shells of Nassida differ from 

 those of Buccinidce and Muricidce in having the pillar 

 plicated ; the nucleus of the operculum is placed as in 

 the last-named family. 



Genus I. NASSA* Lamarck. PI. VI. f. 4. 



Body short : pallial tube narrow and extended : tentacles of 

 moderate length : eyes placed on stalks from one-third to half 

 the way up the tentacles : foot large, in front broad and with an- 

 gular corners ; tail cloven, and furnished with two tentacle- 

 like processes : [odontophore ; rhachis broad, arched, pecti- 

 nated ; uncinus having a tooth at the base. (Loven.)] 



* A wicker basket, with a narrow neck, for catching fish. 



Q 5 



