FUSUS. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Shell univalve, spiral, fusiform, canaliculated at base, 

 covered with an epidermis, and destitute of varices ; spire 

 elevated ; aperture oval ; coluraella simple ; labrum on its 

 edge simple ; operculum horny, subconcentric. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



This -genus was separated from the Linnaean Murex by 

 Bruguieres, who however included Pyrula, Fasciolaria, 

 Fulgur,and Pleurotoma. which have since been withdrawn 

 from it by Lamarck and Montfoit. The latter author dis- 

 tinguished another genus by the name of Latirus, for the 

 umbilicated species. Notwithstanding these improve- 

 ments, it is still acknowledged to be an artificial assemblage, 

 and more divisions must therefore be made. Lamarck 

 places the genus in his family of Canaliferes ; from all the 

 genera of which it is distinguished by very obvious cha- 

 racters, excepting Pyrula, which however consists of thin, 

 more or less cancellate shells, (I mean the true Pyrulae,) 

 with a very short spire, and pyriform. having the greatest 

 diameter above the middle. But as Bucciuum, in another 

 family, is at present constituted, Fusus is allied artilicial- 

 ly even to that genus. 



The species are numerous, and are marine. Lamarck 

 enumerates thirty-seven recent and thirty-six fossil species; 

 but we are informed that Defrance makes the number of 

 fossil species amount to sixty-six. 



PLATE XXIX* 



