MARINE MOLLUSKS — MACGINITIE 121 



Distribution: Point Barrow to Plover Bay. It has not been 

 reported previously from north of Bering Strait. 



Genus Neptunea Rbding, 1798 



Neptunea ventricosa (Gmelin, 1790) 



Plate 14, figures 1-6 



Buccinum saturum Martyn, 1784, pi. 2, fig. 47. [Not binomial.] 



Buccinum ventricosum Gmelin, 1790, p. 3498. 



?Chrysodo7nus variciferus Dall, 1907, p. 154. 



Chrysodomus saturus Dall, 1921, p. 97. — Oldroyd, 1927, pt. 1, p. 232, pi. 27, 



figs. 3, 4. 

 ? Chrysodomus solutus variciferus Dall, 1921, p. 97, pi. 9, figs. 6, 7. 

 Neptunea ventricosa Abbott, 1954, p. 230, pi. 24s. 



Fifteen living specimens were dredged: 1 (48.5 mm. high by 28 mm. 

 in diameter) at 110 feet; 1 (68.5 by 41 mm.) at 120 feet; 1 (16.5 by 

 10 mm.) at 138 feet; 1 (61.5 by 36.5 mm.) at 125 feet; 3 (21, 25, and 

 29 mm. high) at 152 feet; 2 (41 and 59 mm.) at 341 feet; 3 (about 

 79 by 46, 83 by 47, and 83.5 by 44.5 mm.) at 420 feet; 2 (61 mm. and 

 about 78 mm.) at 453 feet; and 1 (24 by 14 mm.) at 522 feet. Several 

 broken and barnacle-encrusted shells inhabited by hermit crabs were 

 taken at 120, 130, and 420 feet. More often than not, the nucleus 

 of a large living shell would be broken off. 



Other material examined: Numerous specimens from localities 

 ranging from Cape Smy the (Point Barrow), Alaska, to the northern 

 end of Nunivak Island. 



Discussion: In some of the shells of this species the whorls are 

 practically flat (pi. 14, fig. 1), in others there is a slight convexity (pi. 

 14, fig. 5); in most of the shells 2 cords, or carinae, follow the whorls 

 (pi. 14, figs. 1, 6), but in some the more posterior of the two is not 

 marked; in some the last whorl is somewhat lamellose (pi. 14, fig. 3), 

 in others not, and in still others axial ribs (pi. 14, fig. 5) occur at 

 the points of growth cessation. In some of these shells there is only 

 a slight tendency toward nodes, in others there are decided nodes, 

 especially on the more anterior of the 2 carinae. Except in the 

 smallest shells, the outer lip is not angled at the carina. The canal is 

 decidedly curved and reflexed. The color varies from an ashen white 

 to a light brown, sometimes with a combination of colors in the same 

 shell. The carinae are usually darker than the remainder of the shell 

 and the nodes may be still darker or almost white. The throat varies 

 from almost white to purplish brown. In young sheUs and well- 

 preserved older specimens, the nucleus is markedly conspicuous; it 

 consists of 2 complete whorls, is pure white, large, cylindrical, and 

 blunt. The contrasting color and cylindrical shape cause the nucleus 

 to resemble a plug inserted into the shell. 



