316 



TURRITELLIDvE. 



C. ptihhdbnn. 



of growth 



ulte which are thick, curved, and covered with large cilia. The 

 eyes are conspicuous, black, oval, and situated at nearly 

 the middle of the bases of the tentacular, a little toward 

 the inner sides. The operculigerous lobe projects a lit- 

 tle beyond the operculum. 



In keeping alive several individuals of this species 

 from April to Noveml)er, I observed the following stages 

 First. A slender, thin, arcuated form with few distinct 



ribs. Second. The anterior half of this form, left by the decadence 



of its posterior half, with a part of the growing adult shell. Third. 



The adult form. Thus septa would appear to be thrice formed. 

 This species inhabits the laminarian zone in New Bedford Har- 



l)Or, where it was dredged adhering to groups of Vermeti (^Stimpson). 



Ciciius VERl^IETUS, Adaxson. 1757. 

 Shell tubular, spiral at the apex, irregularly and loosely twisted 

 towards the aperture ; operculum horny. 



Vermetus radicula. 



Shell conic-tuhnlar ; usually many tulies are intertwined into a group ; un- 

 equal stripe run tiie whole length of the tube. 



Vermetus lumhricalis, Gould, Inv. 1st ed., not of Lam. 



Vermetus radicula, Stimpson, Shells of New England, .37 ; Cheek Lists, 5. 



Fig- 584. si^ell consisting of a long, rough, ash-colored, 



conical tul)e, marked with numerous, unequal, 

 raised lines along its whole length. At the 

 pointed end is a spire of eight or ten closely 

 connected whorls, upon each of which are two 

 sharp, elevated ridges. This portion usually 

 lies in a horizontal direction, and is attached 

 by one side to some foreign body. The coil 

 then becomes ascending and lax until it can 

 barely be called tortuous. The aperture is cir- 

 cular, with a sliarp, simple edge, and is closed 

 l)y a horny oiterculum, having a central nu- 

 cleus, and concentric elements. 



The length of the closely spiral portion is 



from half an inch to an inch ; it is then con- 



' V. radicula* tinucd indefinitely. Some of my specimens 



* I am indebted to E. 11. Mayo, Esq. for the opportunity of figurnig a fine speeimen 

 from Buzzard's Bay. — W. G. B, 



