THE MUSEUM. 



19 



Fig. g. 



species illustrated in this number are 

 Valuta itudulata (Fig. l) from Aus- 

 tralia; ]'oliita cybinui (Fig. 4) from 

 Pacific; I'oluta Dclcsscrtii (Fig. 5), 

 ]'oIiita iiiusica (Fig. 6) from West 

 Indies; Valuta iinpcralis (Fig. 7) from 

 Philippines; ]'aluta scapha (Fig. 8) 

 froiij Singapore, commonly called Fox- 



Fig. 10. 



head; and Valuta vex ilium (Fig. 9) 

 from East Indies. 



The genus Caniis, is especially rich 

 in species, as well as numerous in in- 

 dividuals. The shells are much sought 

 after by collectors, many bting rare 



and so command high prices. Those 

 belonging to this group present a very 

 remarkable uniformity of shape, at the 

 same time that the colors are very 

 fine, and much varied in design. The 

 shell is thick, solid, inversely conical, 

 wreathing spirally from the base to 

 the ape.x, the spii-e bein 



s generally 



Fig. iia. 



short, the last turn constituting alone 

 the greater part of the surface of the 

 shell. The opening extends nearly 

 along its entire length, occupying all 

 the height of the last whorl. It is al- 

 ways narrow, its edges quite parallel; 

 the right edge is plain, sharp and thin, 

 detached from the front of the last 

 spiral by a sloping hollow, more or less 



Fig- 15- 



Fig. II. 



deep. The animal creeps upon a foot, 

 elongated, narrow, furnished behind 

 with a horny rudimentary operculum, 

 altogether insufficient to cover the 

 opening. The head, which is large, is 

 elongated into a little snout or muz- 

 zle, at the base of which rises on 

 either side a conical tentacle, having 



