BUCCINIDA. 147 
on the contrary, ascertained that the more advanced embryos 
swallow the other yelks whole, and in such quantities as to 
become greatly distended ; his paper in the ‘ Report of the British 
Association’ for 1860 contains a representation of ‘a young 
embryo in the act of swallowing an egg.’ Before the fry leaves 
its cell, it is furnished with two rounded and ciliated lobes in 
front, a proboscis, eyes, foot, gills, heart, otolites or ear-stones, 
and other organs, besides a perfectly formed shell of two whorls 
and an operculum. The spawning season takes place according 
to the latitude and climate, between October and May; about 
two months are required for the development of the fry. The 
shells vary exceedingly in thickness ; some are solid and coarsely 
ribbed; others are thin, and their sculpture is very delicate. 
Sometimes the top of the shell is broken off, and the opening is 
closed by a plug. In young specimens the nucleus of the oper- 
culum is more central than in the adult, the lateral extension of 
growth being inwards or towards the pillar.” 
The egg-cases of B. Humphreysianum are separate and hemi- 
spherical, on which account Dr. Jeffreys has proposed to separate 
that species under the generic name Mada, its surface being 
glabrous. 
Buccotnopsis, Jeffreys. 
Syn.—Liomesus, Stimpson. 
Distr.—3 sp. Northern Europe, Siberia, Alaska. B. Dalet, 
Sowb. (1, 29). 
Shell bucciniform, smooth or spirally striulate, last whorl 
inflated ; aperture obliquely truncate below. Operculum small, 
subtriangular, nucleus apical. 
Dr. Jeffreys, who places his genus in the family Muricide, 
remarks that ‘the principal difference between this genus and 
Buccinum consists in the operculum, the nucleus of which is in 
Buccinopsis terminal, at the inner base of the mouth, the increase 
taking place by semielliptical layers ; while in the other genus it 
is placed within the edge, at the outer side of the mouth, the 
increase taking place by concentric layers. The egg-cases of 
Buccinopsis are separate, and shaped like a well-filled leather 
purse, the opening for the egress of the fry being at the top and 
very wide.” . 
Neosuccinum, HE. A. Smith. 
Distr.—The preceding genera, Buccinum and Buccinopsis, are 
inhabitants of the Arctic sea; this, of the Antarctic waters. N. 
Eatoni, BE. A. Smith (1, 30, 31). 
Shell bucciniform, smooth, thin; aperture obliquely, widely 
notched below. Operculum subspiral. Dentition resembling that 
of Neptunea. 
Mr. Smith founds his genus principally upon the paucispiral 
