i8 



THE MUSEUM. 



Fig. 4. 



without channel; the columellar edge 

 is lightly excavated and arranged in 

 oblique folds. The right edge is arch- 

 ed, thick or cutting, according to the 

 species. The animal has a large head, 

 provided with two tentacles. The 

 mouth terminates in a thick trunk, 

 furnished with hooked teeth. The 

 foot is very large, furrowed in front. 



base. Mitra cpiscopalis (Fig. i) 

 from the Indian Ocean, is more com- 

 monly known as the mitre shell. It 

 is white, ornamented with square spots 

 of fine red and capable of high polish. 

 Mitra papalis (Fig. 2) has dentiform 

 folds round the opening, which also 

 crown each turn of the spiral; the 

 spots are smaller and much more nu- 

 merous and varied in form from those 

 of Mitra cpiscopalis. 



Fig- 5- 



In the genus I'oluta, the shell is 

 oval, more or less tunbellied, the spire 

 is short, slightly mammillate, the 

 opening large, the edges notched. 



Fig. 7. 



and projecting from all parts of the 

 shell, but without operculum. The 

 Volutes live on the sands near the 

 shore; sometimes they are found high 

 and dry left by the retreating tide. 

 The shells of various forms, are orna- 

 mented with the most lively colors, 

 the surface covered with irregular 

 lines, the tint of which is generally in 





Fig. 8. 



Fig. 6. 



strong contrast with that of the 

 ground. Among the many handsome 



