CANALIFERA. MOLLUSCA. FUSUS. 285 



the coast of Maine, and farther eastward, they are not infrequent. 

 The small variety is found abundantly in fishes caught in our har- 

 bour, though 1 have never found it washed ashore. 



I have regarded the small shells as the young, or a dwarf variety of 

 the type, though Mr. Sowerby is rather disposed to regard them as a 

 good species. And I had also regarded the next species as variety 

 abhrevialxis of the same ; but as I find it accurately described by Mr. 

 Gray, I have concluded to follow him, since I can do it without im- 

 posing any new name. The true Murex corneiis of Linnaeus is said 

 to be the Fusus ligndritis of Lamarck. 



FusUS VENTRICOSUS. 



Shell ovate-globose, bluish-white, covered with a thick epider- 

 mis ; ichorls jive, marked with revolving lines ; aperture longer 

 than the spire. 



Figure 200. 



State Coll., No. 13. Soc. Cab., No. 2376. 



Fusus Islandicus (var.), Kiener ; Species, pi. 15, f. 2. 



Fusus ventricosus, Gray; in Zool. to Beechey's Voyage, 117. 



Fusus corneus (var.) .' Brown ; Conch, of Great Brit., &/-c., pi. 47, f. 11, 12. 



Fusus striatus, of Paris collections, on authority of Mr. Sowerby. 



This species is closely allied to the preceding in color, mark- 

 ing, and texture. It is, however, much more ventricose, the last 

 whorl composing nearly the whole shell. It maintains its pro- 

 portions through all the sizes and ages I have seen. It is also 

 shorter and finer lined than F. Sablni, Gray, found in the Arctic 

 seas, to which Brown's figure perhaps applies more properly than 

 to this species. 



I have never seen it from any other locality than the Bank 

 fishing-grounds, and this may add to its claims to be regarded as 

 a distinct species. Length lyV inch, breadth lyV inch, diver- 

 gence 78°. 



The aperture is nearly twice as long as the spire, and the revolving 

 lines are closer and more regular than in F. Islandicus. 



The above name, applied to it by Mr. Gray, is perhaps not objec- 

 tionable, though it was formerly applied to Rostellaria curvirostris. 



