CEKITIIIUM 



GENERIC CIIAIIACTEK. 



Shell more or less turrited, often tubercular; aperture 

 sQiall, oblique, with a short, truncated or recurved canal 

 at base, which is not cinarginated ; labium concave, more 

 or less callous; a more or less distinct groove at the junc- 

 tion of the labrum with the preceding whorl; operculum 

 small, rounded. 



Animal much elongated ; mantle prolonged m a caLal 

 on the left side ; foot short, oval, with an anterior marginal 

 groove; head with a proboscis, depressed; tentacula i^- 

 mote, with the eyes on their middle, beyond which they 

 are slender; mouth terminal, vertical, without labial tooth 

 and with a very small tongue ; a long and narrow branchia 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Brugucire adopted the name of this genus from Adan- 

 son, who says, that Fabius Columna used the word to 

 designate one of the species. The following is the de- 

 scriptive appellation of the latter, ''Ijuccinum tuberosum 

 Cerithium parvum." All the species which Adanson 

 referred to it are correctly placed, with the exception of ■ 

 the Ligar, (Turritella terebra, L.) and the Me sal. both ui 

 which lie was aware dilFer generically from the others. 

 He thus describes the operculum of C. radula. L. and his 

 figure corresponds in character, • opercule exactemcnt 

 orbiculaire. eartilagincuX; fort mince, biun transparent ct 



