VOLUTA, 



Species 19. (Mus. Cuming.) 

 VoLUTA viEEscENs. P'ol. testd comco-ovatd, cramusculd, 

 spird brevi, apice siibacuid, atifractibus transveisim 

 crebre linemi-stdcatis, mperne concavo-angulatis, ad 

 angulum acute tiibercidatis, tuberadis in cosiis gradatim 

 evanidk descendenlibus, columella multiplicatd, plicis 

 irregulanbus, aperturd angustd, labro subreflexo ; vi- 

 resee)de, dense nigro-punctatd, zonis numerosis aqid- 

 dhtantibus angustls immaculaiis, nisi punctis per- 

 paitcis nigris majoribus, labro nigro-maetdato. 

 The greenish Volute. Shell conically ovate, rather 

 thick, spu-e short, rather sharp at the apes, whorls 

 transversely closely linearly grooved, concavely angled 

 round the upper part, shai-ply tubercled at the angle, 

 tubercles descending into gradually vanishing ribs, 

 columella many-plaited, plaits irregular, aperture 

 narrow, lip sbghtly reflected ; greenish, thickly black- 

 dotted, with numerous equidistant narrow zones 

 unspotted except by a few black dots of larger size, 

 lip black-spotted. 

 SoLANDER, Dillwyu, Catalogue of Shells, vol. i. p. 5(52. 

 Blurex musicalis mridis. Martini. 

 Valuta polyzotialis, Lamarck. 

 Voltdafidm, Lamarck. 

 Volutapusio, Swaiuson. 

 Hab. West Africa. 



Dr. Solander's manuscript name for this species was 

 published iu DiUwyn's ' Catalogue of Shells ' diu-ing the 

 progi'css of Lamarck's ' Auimaux sans Vertebres ' two or 

 three years before the appearance of genus Valuta, and 

 therefore has priority. Mr. Swainson's Valida piisio, 

 which may be seen in the British Museum, is merely a 

 worn, discoloured specimen of V. virescens, so far as it is 

 possible to judge by its similarity of form and the faint 

 traces of marking that remain. Mr. Sowerby has pub- 

 lished a figure of it in his 'Thesaurus Conchyliorum,' 

 but the colouring is rather exaggerated. The specimen is 

 in a condition in which no shell ought to be described, 

 unless presenting some new typical peculiarity of form. 



Species 30. (Fig. a, Mus. Gubba ; Fig. b, 

 Mus. Cuming.) 

 VoLUTA HEBRiEA. Vol. testd ovatd vel oblonga-ovatd, 

 crassd, panderosd, spird iiderdum brevi, interdimi 

 exsertd, apice subpapillai-i, atifractibus leevibus aut 

 transversim obscure liratis, superne gibboso-angulatis, 

 plenmique fortiter fuberculatis, colmnelld fortiier quin- 

 queplicatd, siiperue plicis parvis numerosis aut obsaletis ; 

 prdlide fitscescente-carned, Uneis irregularibus veni- 

 foriidbiis transversis et e suturis descettdeutibus, macu- 

 lisqiie IderoglijpMcis, intend nigro-castaneis, varie 

 fasciatim pictd, interdum, autem raro, aurantio-rufo 

 bifasciatd, labra nigra-maculato. 

 The Hebrew Volute. Shell ovate or oblong-ovate, 

 thick, ponderous, spire sometimes short, sometimes 

 exserted, apex somewhat papUlary, whorls smooth or 

 transversely obscm-ely ridged, gibbously angled round 

 the upper part, generally strongly tubercled, colu- 

 mella strongly five-plaited with small plaits above, 

 either numerous or obsolete ; light brownish flesh- 

 colour, variously painted in a banded style with ir- 

 regidar vein-like Unes, transverse, also descending 

 from the sutures, and hieroglypb'c blotches, of very 

 dark chestnut, sometimes but rarely encircled by two 

 bands of orange-red, lip spotted with black. 

 LiNN-EUS, Syst. Nat. (13th. edit.) p. 1194. 

 Buccimmi caronatum, Martyn. 

 Pale red variety. Valuta tnrbinata, Kiener. 

 Ilab. AVest Africa. 



This fine species varies considerably, with the spire 

 sometimes short, sometimes exserted, in which latter case 

 the tubercles are so much the less prominently developed. 

 It is the ' False Music Shell ' of the old conchologists ; the 

 Buccimmi musicum spurimn of Seba, Murex musicalis spii- 

 riiis of Martini, TJiema musicum Hebraicimi of Klein, and 

 the IFilde Musgl--]toarn of the Dutch. None of the varieties 

 have the bands of Hues or dots of the true V. musica. 



Fig. 10 e. (Mus. Hudson.) 

 The red variety of V. mitsica, referred to in the pre- 

 ceding plate as being Lamarck's Valuta canteahta. 



November, 1849. 



