158 Marine Shells of the Western Coast of Florida 



Genus ("OLUBRAKIA Schumacher, 1817 

 Colubraria lanceolata-'" (Menke) PI. 31, fig. 222 



Alt., 27 mm. Shell slender, yellowish white, maculated with 

 brown; thin epidermis; six low-convex whorls tapering to sharp apex, 

 nuclear whorls dark brown; body whorl more than half the height 

 of shell, sutures distinct; cancellate sculpture of fine longitudinal 

 ribbing and elevated spiral threads; each whorl crossed by one or 

 two strong varices; aperture long-oval, outer lip thickened by a 

 strong varix; columella arcuate, callus elevated into a collar; short, 

 recurved canal; operculum corneous, fits aperture. 



Dredged from rocky and gravelly bottom in three to five 

 fathoms. 



Family COLUMBELLIDAE 



The members of this family are distributed through warm and 

 temperate seas, comparatively few are adapted to cold waters. 

 Their range m depth is from the littoral zone to some 650 fathoms. 

 These beautiful small shells are many in species and individuals. 



The shells are small, often smooth, without striking pattern of 

 color or sculpture, generally ovate or fusiform, with narrow aper- 

 ture and a short anterior canal. The columellar lip has a tubercle 

 at its lower part and the outer lip is usually thickened and crenu- 

 lated within. The operculum is corneous, nucleus at base or near 

 middle of outer margin. 



Genus PTRENE^ss Roding, 1798 



Subgenus ailTKELLA Risso, 1826 



Pyrene albelbi ioiitha-'^'* (Ravenel) PI. 82, fig. 227 



Alt. to 10 mm. Shell uniformly light or amber, light forms 

 often flecked or pencilled with chestnut; dull brownish epidermis; 

 seven or eight whorls, spire elongate, acuminate, whorls flattened, 

 sutures distinct; 15 to 16 well-elevated axial ribs, extending to peri- 

 phery of body whorl; faint or no spiral striations in intercostal 

 spaces; base of body whorl smooth, strong spirals below, revolving 

 about canal; aperture oval; short, slightly oblique anterior canal; 

 other characters typical; shell more slender, spire more elongate 

 and acuminate than A. avara similis with which species it is easily 



2^7 Lat, coluhrinus, pertaining to a serpent; lanrrola, little lance. 

 -^^ Gr., Pyrcn, stone of a fruit; Lat., m'ltra, a liturgical headdress. 

 -^^ Lat., albus, white; ella, dim. suffix; iontha, hairy. 



