OLIVA. 



CiENERTC CHARACTER. 



Shell subcylindric, oblong, smooth, more or less polish- 

 ed ; epidermis none ; spire short ; suture canaliculated, 

 the edge of each volution extending a little upward, canal 

 bounded above by a revolving, carinate callus : hodij whorl 

 near its base with a slightly elevated band, beginning be- 

 low the middle of the aperture and revolving to the base 

 of the labrum : aperture elongated ; labrum and columel- 

 la w ith calcareous deposite, much striated, striae on the lat- 

 ter more elongated : 1)as(i deeply emarginate ; operculum 

 none. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



The smoothness and polish of these beautiful shells, are 

 no doubt owing to the extension, of the smooth surface of 

 the mantle of the inhabitant, over their whole exterior. 

 The animal is not yet well known, but Lamarck suppo- 

 ses it to be camivorus. It is marine. 



Of all the species figured in the books, and existing in 

 the collections, Linne formed but about two species, which 

 he referred to his genus Voluta under the names of oUva 

 and porphyria. Bruguiere applied to them the present 

 generic name, which was adopted by Lamarck, who, with 

 his usual acute perception of natural difl'ercnces, described 

 more than sixty species, among which arc a few that ex- 

 ist only in the fossil state, and according to Blainville, 



PLATE III. 



