V L U T A . 



Species 56. (Miis. Cuming.) 



VoLUTA GUTTATA. Vol. testd pyriformi-oblonffd, crasaii, 

 basi suhrecurvd, spird acmninatd, apice subaculd, uii- 

 fractibm plicato-codatis, costis gradatim evanidis, co- 

 Imnelld multiplicatd, pUcis dmbus iribusve inferior lb us 

 distinctis, creteris minutis, aperturd parviusculd, labro 

 incrassato, variceso, intus obsolete denticidato ; rosaceo- 

 albd, ffuiiis rufo-fuscis Mc illic irrecjulariter pictd. 



The spotted Volute. Shell pyramidally oblong, thick, 

 a little recurved at the base, spire acuminated, rather 

 sharp at the apex, whorls plicately ribbed, ribs gra- 

 dually fading away, columella many-plaited, two or 

 three lower plaits distinct, the rest minute, aperture 

 rather small, lip thickened, varicose, obsoletely den- 

 ticulated within ; pinkish-white, painted in'cgularly 

 with blotches of red-brown. 



Hab. Honduras; Dysou. 



An interesting new species of which two examples were 



collected, belonging to the same type as the little /'. 



Guildiiiffii. 



Species 57. (Mus. MetcaWe.) 



VoLUTA Cylleniformis. Fol. testd ovatd, crassissimd, 

 basi recurvd, spird conicd, apice acuta, anfractibus sii- 

 perne depresso-sulcatis, longitndinaliter acute plicato- 

 costatis, liris subtilibns plus minus obsolete decussatis, 

 columella antice rugulosd, triplicatd, plicis parvis, 

 acutis, aperturd parvd, labro incrassato, varicoso ; alhd, 

 guttis aurantio-fa-icescentibus hie illic promiscue pictd. 



The Cyllene - shaped Volute. Shell ovate, rather 

 thick, recurved at the base, spii'e conical, sharp at 

 the apex, whorls depressly gi-ooved round the upper 

 part, longitudinally sharply pKcately ribbed, more or 

 less obsoletely decussated with fine ridges, columella 

 rugulose in front, three-plaited, plaits small, sharp, 

 aperture small, lip thickened, varicose ; white, pro- 

 miscuously painted here and there with light 

 orange-brown spots. 



SowEKBY, Thesaurus Conch, p. 214. pi. 55. f. 113, 113. 



Hah. ? 



This interesting little species, so nearly resembling a 

 Cyllene in general aspect, is at present unique in the col- 

 lection of William Metcalfe, Esq. 



Species 58. (Mus. Taylor.) 



VoLUTA abyssicola. Vol. testd pyriformi, temd, spin! 

 bn-vi, subfnrritn, apice acuta, anfractibus siipernr dc- 

 pye.no-caiialiciilalis, liris nunierosis acutis longitudina- 

 libus et transversis midiqiie creberriine subprofunde 

 cancellaiis, liris siiju-rni- niiirnniatis, cohmelld quadri- 

 plicatd, aperturd siibinninshl, Uihro tend ,- fulvescente- 

 cinered, fasciis rufo-fuscis august is tribus vet quatuor 

 cingulutd. 



The deep-inhabiting Volute. Shell pear-shaped, thin, 

 spire short, somewhat turreted, sharp at the apex, 

 whorls depressly channelled round the upper part, 

 rather deeply very closely cancellated tlu-oughout 

 with numerous sharp ridges, which are pointed at 

 the upper part, columella four-plaited, aperture 

 rather narrow, lip thin ; fulvous-ash colour, encircled 

 with three or four narrow red-brown bands. 



Adams and Eeeve, Moll. Voy. Samarang, pi. 7. fig. 6. 



Ilab. Cape of Good Hope (dredged from a bank of dead 

 shells and rounded iron-stones, at the depth of 133 

 fathoms) ; Belcher. 



This elaborately carved species is one of considerable 

 interest, from the ciixumstance of its being the fii-st living 

 representative of a group of highly-sculptm-ed fossil 

 species, abounding in the Eocene portion of our Tertiary 

 beds. The principal of these V. lima, elevata, crenulata, 

 and digitaUna, are well known to geologists and were 

 distinguished as a subgenus by INIi-. Svvainsou, under the 

 name FolutilitJies. 



The Voluta abyssicola, under consideration, is not iden- 

 tical with any of the fossil species, the surface being cha- 

 racterized by a closer and more sharply defined pattern of 

 lattice-work, comprising as many as thirty transverse and 

 forty longitudinal ridges in a whorl. The upper edge of 

 the whoi'ls is depressly flattened at the sutiwes, forming 

 a narrow ascending chajinel. The ridges are slightly 

 nodulous at the point of crossing, and round the upper 

 extremity impart a coronated aspect to the shell. The 

 columcUar plaits, four in number, are sharp and delicate. 

 The outer lip is thin and does not appear to be matiu'e. 



Species 59. (Mus. Pelessert.) 

 Voluta dubia. Vol. testa ocato-fusifond, spirt 



December, 184!). 



