FULGUR. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Shell pyriform ; spire very short ; varices none ; body 

 whorl very large ; aperture large, oval extended towards 

 ^e base into an elongate-conic, open canal, which is entire 

 at base ; umbilicus none ; epidermis deciduous ; labium 

 concave with a single fold or oblique groove near the ori- 

 gin of the canal and a slight calcareous deposition above ; 

 labrum simple ; within having elevated striae which do 

 not revolve far within the shell, nor do they reach the 

 edge of the labrum, but leave a smooth border ; operculum 

 homy. 



OBSERTATIOlfS. 



This genus was formed by Montfort. Linn6 placed 

 all the species with which he was acquainted in his great 

 genus Murex. Bruguieres, Lamarck and Blainville re- 

 ferred them to Pyrula, a genus with which they are cer- 

 tainly very closely allied, but from which they differ in 

 having a fold on the labium, in not being vesicular and thin, 

 in having elevated lines or striae within the labrum, &c. — 

 Linne did not even perceive this alliance, if we may judge 

 from the fact that he placed these shells with Murex, as 

 above stated, whilst he referred the true Pyrulae to his re- 

 servoir Bulla. We do not know what difference exists be- 

 tween the animals. Naturalists do not appear to know 

 whether or not they are operculated,but we can affirm with 



HLATE IIX. 



