162 Marine Shells of the Western Coast of Florida 



outer lip; other characters typical. Dredged in three to six fathoms. 

 Nassarius vibex-"^ (Say) PI. 32, fig. 231 



Alt., 10-14 mm. Shell conic-ovate, apex acute, nuclear whorls 

 dark; body whorl ventricose; sutures shallow; cream-white, yellow- 

 ish, flecked with brown; occasional dark-brown individuals; about 

 seven flattened whorls without distinct shoulders; axially ribbed, 

 12 ribs on body whorl; spirally striate by coarse threads which cross 

 and crenate ribs; aperture oval, outer lip with thick varix, crenate 

 within; columella arched, crenate below, callus expanded over body 

 whorl; anterior canal short, recurved. 



Common and abundant in littoral region, both on sandy and 

 grassy bottoms. Often congregates in large numbers on egg ribbons 

 of Busycon "contrarium". 



Egg capsules of Jfassarius vibex (Say) PI. 51, figs. 347a, b, c 



Family BUCCINIDAE^oo 



This family is best represented in northern seas. Its genus 

 Buccinum- is circumboreal. But two species belonging to the genus 

 Cantharus are reported from the western coast of Florida. 



Genus CANTHARUS Roding, 1798 

 Cantharus tinctus^oi (Conrad) PI. 32, figs. 232a, b 



Alt., 28 mm. Shell smoothly ovate, six whorls, spire evenly 

 conic; body whorl large, sutures indistinct; variegated color pattern 

 of blue-gray, chocolate- and chestnut-brown, yellow and milk- 

 white; darkest at apex; one of the few shells showing a definite blue 

 coloration; axial ribs more or less well developed, 11 on body whorl; 

 revolving larger and smaller ridges cross both ribs and interspaces; 

 aperture long-oval; outer lip thick in adult — thin in juvenile — speci- 

 mens, edge and interior crenate. Columella arched, one strong fold 

 near upper angle of aperture; anterior canal almost straight, slightly 

 recurved; operculum corneous, pyriform, apical nucleus. 



Fairly common in littoral regions on grassy bottoms, about sub- 

 merged pilings, logs and oyster bars, and in open water to six 

 fathoms. 



Egg capsules of Cantlutrus tinctus (Conrad) PI. 51, figs. 348a, b, c 



-^^ Lat., vibex, the mark of a blow. 



^0^ Lat., buccina, bucina, a crooked trumpet. 



^°^ Gr., kantharos, drinking cup; Lat., tinctus, painted. 



