132 



EAST COAST MARINE SHELLS 



pattern. Length 8-10 mm. 



The most abundant Ollvella upon the 

 Florida beaches and readily detected on ac- 

 count of its glistening surface. 



PI. 50, Fig. 7 



Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to 



West Indies 



OLIVELLA JASPIDEA Gmelin. Shell yellowish 

 white, fasciculated with dark brown color 

 at sutures; surface with cross-cut sculp- 

 ture and tiny holes. Length lP-18 mm. 



PI, 51, Fig. 19 



Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to 



West Indies 



OLIVELLA MUTICA Say. Intermediate in size, 

 sometimes broader than the other Ollvella 

 of our southern coasts; white, yellow or 

 brown, frequently banded; very dark speci- 

 mens caused by merging of the bands; middle 

 band commonly the broadest; spire produced. 

 Length 10-16 mm. 



When the bands are very wide they 

 give the appearance of very narrow white 

 bands between them. 



PI. 50, Fig. 6 



PI. 64, Figs. 1, 2 (Anatomy) 



Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to 



West Indies 



OLIVELLA NIVEA Gmelin. Body whorl fascicu- 

 lated, pinkish at suture; much larger than 

 0. mutica and narrower than jaspldea. 

 Length lS-25 mm. 



?1. 51, Fig. 11 



PI. 50, Fig. 8 



West Florida to the West Indies 



Family Terebridae 



Shell long and narrow v;ith indis- 

 tinct suture; whorls flattened and columel- 

 la without plaits; operculiun horny. 



Some of the species are provided 

 with a poison gland. There are approximate- 

 ly two hundred known species distributed 

 throughout warm seas. 



GENUS TEREBP.A Brugulere 1789 



TEREBRA DISLOCATA Say. Longitudinally pli- 

 cate, grooved upon the spire; small knobs 

 upon the sutural band; usually a light zone 

 at the periphery. Length of shell 25-35 mm. 



The animal's proboscis of giant 

 size Is extruded base first. It is very 



muscular and funnel-shaped, according to 

 Dall, the victim being squeezed, smothered 

 and, sucked to death simultaneously. The 

 movements of the animal, when kept in cap- 

 tivity, are very sluggish. In May small 

 round ovicapsules, 1 mm, in diameter, are 

 found upon the shells, probably of the same 

 species , 



There is no jaw or radula but a 

 constriction of the proboscis appears to 

 contain the poison fangs in the form of 

 grooved prickles. 



At Sanibel, Florida, this species 

 lives In great numbers upon the ocean beach 

 near the lighthouse. At low tide its tracks 

 may be seen near those of the little Ollvel- 

 la mutica. The movements of the milky 

 white animal are slow, but graceful. 



See figure of T. dislocata rudls. 



Virginia to Florida and westward to 



Texas 



TEREBRA DISLOCATA RDDIS Gray. A large form 

 with coarse sculpture. 



PI. 51, Fig. 16 



Southern Florida and West Indies 



TEREBRA CONCAVA Say. Whorls concave, both 

 sides of the suture nodulous; no costae, 

 spirally grooved; color white; whorls thir- 

 teen. Length 19 mm. 



Dead specimens have been taken at 

 Sea Island City, New Jersey. 



PI. 33, Fig. 7, PI. 76, Fig. 5. 



North Carolina to Georgia 



TEREBRA CONCAVA VINOSA Dall. Grooves re- 

 placed by channels separating raised 

 threads; wine color or variegated. Length 

 18 mm. Depth range 2-30 fathoms. 



PI. 33, Fig. 18 



North Carolina to Florida 



SECTION ACUS H. and A. Adams 1857 



TEREBRA PROTEXTA Conrad. Whorls convex and 

 with numerous small plications; chocolate 

 color inside and out;, sutural band some- 

 times present upon a grayish ground. Length 

 18-25 mm. Depth range 1-50 fathoms. 



Not a difficult shell to find upon 

 the west coast of Florida. 



PI. 51, rig. 12 



North Carolina to Florida and Texas 



TEREBRA PROTEXTA LUTESCENS E. A. Smith. A 

 yellow variety. Depth range 1-20 fathoms. 



Off North Carolina and Gulf of Mexico 



