VOLUTA. 



Species 11. (Fig. a, b, c, d, Mus. Cuming.) 

 VoLUT.v VESPERTiLlo. Vol. testa, omto-oblongd, cramus- 

 culd, spird brevi, apice subobtiisd, nodnlosd, anfractibus 

 l/gvibus, mipenie concavo-decUviius, squamato-tubercu- 

 latis, tuberculis interdum fortibus, prom'uientihts, in- 

 terdum, autem raro, fere obsoletis, coltmielld quadri- 

 plicatd, plicis validihus, apertttrd lougiusculd, labro 

 medio subcontracto ; albidd, aut carneolatd aut fid- 

 vesceiite tuictd, nigricante-oUvaceo, vel castaneo, vel 

 cQCceo variP reticulata, aperturx fame carmolo-albd. 



The bat VoLnxE. Shell ovately oblong, rather thick, 

 spire short, rather obtuse and nodulous at the apex, 

 whorls smooth, concavely slanting, squamately tuber- 

 cled, tubercles sometimes strong and prominent, 

 sometimes, but rarely, partially obsolete, columella 

 tour-plaited, plaits strong, aperture rather long, lip 

 slightly contracted in the middle ; whitish, or flesh- 

 tiuged, or fulvous, variously reticulated with blackish 

 olive or chestnut or scarlet, interior of the aperture 

 carneliou-white. 



LiNN-EUS, Syst.Nat. (l2th edit.) p. 1494. 



Varictates. 



VoMa pellii'Serpentis, Lamarck. 



foLnta serpentina, Lamarck. 

 Valuta Mills, Lamarck. 

 Hab. Philippine Islands, Moluccas, kc. 



Four Lamarckian species are now comprehended in this, 

 distinguished merely by slight modifications of growth 

 and variety of painting. The shell Fig. 11a represents 

 the tj'pe of the species, F. vespertilio trae. The growth 

 is short and broad ; and the tubercles, very strongly 

 developed, are thrown up into hooked scales and laterally 

 compressed. Fig. 11 5 is the F. serpentina of Lamarck, 

 of more oblong gi'owth, less strongly tubercled, and 

 marked \vith thin tortuous lines of painting, sometimes 

 dark olive-brown, sometimes bright scarlet as in the spe- 

 cimen figured. Fig. 11 c is a characteristic figure of 

 V. mitis, in which the shell obtains an oblong-cyUndrical 

 form with the tubercles partially obsolete ; and Fig. II d 

 is a representation of the V. pelUs-serpeiUis in fine state. 

 The colour is more elaborately reticulated, and has little 

 indication of the triangular and tortuous lines which dis- 

 tinguish the other varieties. 



Varieties may, however, be cited ad infinitum ; Mi: Cum- 

 ing has separated upwards of thirty in liis cabinet. 



November, 1849. 



