A REVIEW OF THE VOLUTIDAE 



gave V. maculata as the type of Scaphel la. 



According to Iredale Scaphella was 

 proposed first by Swainson in the Zoolog- 

 ical Illustrations (ser, 2, vol. 2, pt, 19, 

 pi. 87, 1832), and Scaphella maculata was 

 figured. Swainson however stated "Typical 

 species Scaphella undulata, junonla, macu- 

 lata, zebra. Aberant species Scaphella 

 papillaris, elonCata"^" Hermannsen was 

 within his rights in selecting (index Gen- 

 erum Malacog. vol. 2, p. 423, 1848) as type 

 V. Junonia Chemnitz especially as he gave 

 the introduction of the genus above. Hed- 

 ley was therefore incorrect in naming 

 Scaphella maculata, now Amoria caroli Ire- 

 dale, even though it were the figured spe- 

 cies. Cymbiola was Introduced at the same 

 time and place, the shell figured was named 

 vespertilio. Swainson then wrote "The sec- 

 ond or subtypical genus of the Volutes ap- 

 pears to be represented by this common 

 though elegant species, adding 'as we have 

 deemed It as a generic appelatlon for the 

 whole group we trust that those who may 

 adopt our views will hereafter distinguish 

 the V. cymbiola of Sowerby, now in the cab- 

 inet of Mr. Broderip, by the name of Cym- 

 biola brodertpia. ' " 



On the whole the adoption of Gray's 

 genus Amoria, with the genotype of undulata, 

 seems advisable on account of the confusion 

 relative to Scaphella and the removal of 

 certain species now grouped under Aurinia. 



Furthermore Adelomelon is now used 

 to contain the new-world species formerly 

 placed under Cymbiola. 



SUBFAMILIES 



Cossmann (1899) proposed six sub- 

 families, Voluttnae, Homocoplocinae, Cym- 

 binae, Zidonlnae , Volutobulbinae , and Loxo- 

 plocinae, based on the shell characters 

 alone. These proposals were not followed 

 by Dall in his Revision of the American 

 Volutidae (1907) where he used the subfam- 

 ily divisions Volutinae and Caricellinae. 

 In 1924 Dall gave reasons for discounting 

 the Importance which he and other writers 

 had attached previously to the protoconch 

 as a means of classification. 



IMPORTANT CHARACTERS 



The shape of the nucleus is a val- 

 uable guide in grouping related shells. 



Allowance must be made, however, for excep- 

 tionally early or late calcification. When- 

 ever a long series of individuals Is exam- 

 ined adherence to a general form is apparent. 



The number of columellar plaits is 

 variable but there are always fairly strict 

 limits. Out of a dozen Alclthoe iracilis 

 studied only one had other than four plaits. 



The anterior notch has considerable 

 systematic value. A shallow notch Is a 

 primitive character and deepening marks in- 

 dicate evolutionary progress. 



The primitive sculpture of most of 

 the New Zealand Volutes consist of strong, 

 smooth, sharp axial ribs. Remains of an 

 early spiral ornamentation are occasionally 

 seen, but do not assume any Importance. 

 Evolution from simple axial ornamentation 

 may follow two paths; 



a. The costae may become angled and 

 then tubercular. 



b. The costae may become obsolete and 

 the shell have a smooth surface. 



Often a tendency is manifested to 

 revert to axial costae or tubercles after 

 a smooth stage has been reached. This is 

 shown in the large examples of Alclthoe 

 suiainsonl where the penultimate whorl is 

 smooth but the body whorl shows a return 

 to tubercles. Amoria vespertilio is fre- 

 quently represented in warm seas of the Pa- 

 cific by colonies of comparatively smooth 

 shells. Occasional individuals possess 

 shells with feeble tubercular processes. 



Under characters of the nucleus 

 Dall states that in the very ancient Meso- 

 zoic transition forms the larval covering 

 was shelly and minute in size, like that of 

 certain small land shells living today. In 

 Mesozoic times reproduction depended upon a 

 large number of small shell bearing larvae, 

 rather than a small number of large ones. 



Dall calls attention to the term 

 "papillose" apex which strictly speaking 

 should be applied to the type of nucleus 

 found in the genus Tudicla . 



Deshayes largely Ignored the nu- 

 clear characters as exhibited by the 

 Parisian Eocene Volutes and which possess 

 peculiar and remarkable protoconchs. He 

 illustrated these characters well but 

 failed to attach any significance to their 

 presence. 



Of the shelly nucleus there are 

 several forms. The most common type Dall 

 called the trochlform nucleus. It appears 



