OF CONCHOLOaY, 14l 



ON THE GENUS FITLGUR AND ITS ALLIES. 



BY THEODORE GILL, M. D. 



Attention having recently been drawn to the genus Fulgur, or 

 Busyeon^ all the recent and fossil species at my command were 

 examined, and the results of such examination are herewith sub- 

 mitted. It has now been definitively shown by Dr. Stimpson 

 that Fulgiir is a true representative of the Buccinidae, and re- 

 lated to Chrysodomus {Neptunea, Bolt), and kindred forms, the 

 animals agreeing in all essential characters ; nor is there any 

 distinction exhibited by the shell alone to contradict the teach- 

 ings of Anatomy. The genus, as represented by the types F. 

 carica and F. canaUculatus, appears, however, to be divisible 

 into two natural genera, which are indeed very closely related, 

 but exhibit diversities in characters which with less reason have 

 been employed to distinguish other genera ; the two genera so 

 indicated are therefore adopted and characterized. In order to 

 exhibit the affinities to, as well as contrasts between a closely 

 allied form which has been billetted from place to place, and 

 very widely separated from its kindred, the diagnosis of the ge- 

 nus Tiidkla is likewise oifered. 



Perhaps the Fasoiolaria {Lyrosoma) sulcosa, Conrad (Fusus 

 sulcosus, olim), may prove to be nearly related to Fulgur. 

 Mr. Conrad has referred the "subgenus" to Fasciolaria, with 

 the following characters : 



" Subpyriform ; ribbed, beak narrow and produced, slightly 

 recurved ; one long, very oblique plait at the angle of the colu- 

 mella." 



As the conchological distinction hitherto made between Fascio- 

 laria and Fulgur, or Busycon, is the presence in the one of several 

 oblique linear "plications," and in the latter of a single very ob- 

 lique plait at the angle or inferior margin of the columella, the rea- 

 sons for referring the species in question to Fasciolaria are not 



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