A N C I L T. A R I A . 



ri.ATR I. 



Germs ANCILLAlvI.V, I.nnxirck. 



Tcxfo raro umhiUcata, fm'iformi-ohlomja vel ovala, inter- 

 dum ventricosa, plerumque crassa, suturis valde cal- 

 losis, basi late emarginaid, columella sapissime coii- 

 striclo-coyitortd. Operaduiii curnenm, parvum. 



Shell rarely umbilicated, fusiformly oblong or ovate, 

 sometimes ventricose, generally thick, with the su- 

 tures very cnllous, base broadly cmarginated, colu- 

 mella mostly constrictedly twisted. Operculum horny, 

 small. 



Of this beautiful genus, founded by Lamarck under the 

 name of AiiciUa, which he afterwards changed to Aiicil- 

 laria, only five species were known until it attracted the 

 attention of Mr. Swainson, who added ten others. To 

 these Mr. G. B. Sowerby, senior and junior, added con- 

 siderably, but with very imperfect information as to the 

 native habitats of the species. The following monograph 

 comprises fifty species, of which all the habitats are re- 

 corded, with a few comparatively unimportant exceptions. 



There are several distinct types of form in this genus. 

 Two are characterized liy an elegant fusiform growth, each 

 having the sutures of the whorls overlaid by a coating of 

 callous enamel. In one of these forms (^A. chiguJala) the 

 enamel is merely a thin superficial layer ; in the other, 

 which is more numerous in species, the enamel is firm (as 

 in A. Yeniedei), but more commonly thickens by its su- 

 perfluity into a rude callous mass, resulting apparently 

 from a peculiarity in the animal. M. Quoy observed that 

 tlie shell is partially imbedded in the substance of the 

 disk, the middle portion of which is often reflected over 

 the edge, and hence arises that callous deposit of shell 

 which is so conspicuous in A. obtiim, DiamiUala, ndjiginosa, 

 Monlrotizieri, and others. Another very different foi-m of 

 Ancillaria is that represented by A. torosa and ventricosa, 

 in wluch the shell is openly convoluted, with only a mo- 

 derate exsertion of spire. Lastly, and most distinct of all 

 because umbilicated, which is not the case with any other 

 species, we have the well-known A. (jlabrata, referred by 

 Lamarck to Eljurna. 



All the Ancillaria are inhabitants of the Eastern He- 

 misphere, excepting A. f/lubrata and Lienardi, belonging 

 to the abnormal type just referred to (Dipsacctis, Klein), 

 natives respectively of the Gulf of Mexico and Per- 

 nambuco, and a single species of an Old World type, 

 A. TankerviHii, recorded as a native of the Caribbean Sea. 



This, it will be seen, is a very unusual and remarkable 

 exception, as the species is identical in general character 

 with species inhabiting China and North Australia. But 

 the geographical distribution of the AncillaricB is alto- 

 gether peculiar. Mr. Cuming never met with the genus 

 in all his drcdgings, except in the form of a single small 

 species at the Philippine Islands, A. Tronsoni. China 

 and Malacca contribute five species, and we have four 

 from the Moluccas, Madagascar, Mauritius, an<l the Cape 

 of Good Hope. About a dozen are recorded as natives of 

 Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia, and another 

 dozen, including the species of the A. ventricosa and cin- 

 namomea type, are from the Eed Sea and Zanzibar. 



Species 1. (Mus. Taylor.) 



ANClLLAitiA Verxedei. Aiic. tcstd elegauter fiisiformi, 

 ventricosiuscidd, pallide Jidto-uuranlid, infra alhifas- 

 ciald, circa snturas callosd et uslnlato-rnfd, spird siii- 

 ac/iininatd, colmnelld modice cordortd. 



Vernede's ANCILL.4.RIA. Shell elegantly fusiform, 

 rather ventricose, pale fulvous-orange, white-banded 

 below, callous and burnt-red about the sutures, spire 

 rather acuminated, columella moderately twisted. 



Sowerby, Thes. Conch. Anc. p. 63. pi. 311. f. 7. 



Ilah. China Seas ? 



This fine shell, formerly in the possession of Mr. Yer- 

 nede, is believed to be from China. It is the only speci- 

 men of the species known. 



Species 2. (Fig. a, Mus. Cuming; Fig. b, Mus. Taylor.) 



Ancillaria Tankervillii. An. testa Jnsiformi-oblongd, 



modice ventricosa, aurantio-lutesceiite, circa sutui'us sa- 



tieratiore, colmnelld valde contortd. 

 Tankerville's Ancillaria. Shell fusiformly-oblong^ 



moderately ventricose, orange-yellow, darker about 



the sutures, columella much twisted. 

 Swainson, Journ. Sci. Lit. and Arts, vol. xviii. p. 283. 

 Hah. Island of Cura9oa, Caribbean Sea. 



In this species the spire is less acuminated, and the 

 columella is more twisted. 



November, ISGi. 



