PYRA MICELLA. 



Plate I. 



Genus PYRAMIDELLA, Lamarck. 

 Teda suljulato-turrita, muUiynrata, lavis vel longUud'ma- 

 liter plicata, spird acuta apice sinistra, aperturd 

 Integra, antice rotunda, columella plicata, labro acuto ; 

 operculum corneum, ovatum, niargine interna sinnalo. 

 Shell subulately turreted, with many-whorlecl spire, smooth 

 or longitudinally plicated, spire acute, with a sinistral 

 apex, aperture entire, roiuided in front, columella 

 plaited, outer lip acute ; operculum horny, oval, with 

 the inner margin sinuous. 

 Of the 45 species now recorded in this interesting 

 genus, 24 were described for the first time by Mr. Arthur 

 Adams, in Mr. Sowerby's 'Thesaurus Conchyliorum,' 11 

 in the ' Annals ' and ' Proceedings ' recently, by the same 

 author, and 3 by Mr. Gould ; 8 only having been known to 

 previous authors. AVhile several of the earlier known forms, 

 such as P. dolahratm and F. terehdhmi, are West Indian 

 shells, many of those more recently discovered were contri- 

 buted from the researches of the late lamented Jlr. Cuming 

 in the Philippine Islands. The islands of the Pacific have 

 supplied several species, and the Japanese and Chinese 

 seas have delivered their quota to the little collection. 



In the monograph by Mr. Adams, the less pyramidal 

 forms, wdiich are also characterized by the shells being 

 plicated, are alone placed under the generic title of Pyra- 

 mideUa, while the more tapering and smooth species are 

 included under the term Oieliscus. The differences named, 

 however, do not seem sufiiciently decided to warrant the 

 division of this small group of shells. 



This brown, tapering smooth shell has slightly flattened 

 whorls, deep suture, and only one plait on the columella. 



Species I. 



Pyramidella brunnea. Pyr. testa elongato-subulatd, 

 lavigald, laiigitudinaliter leviter striata, hrunncd, an- 

 fractibus planatis, ?iume)-asis, ad sutnram subcrenulatis, 

 ziUimo rotundato, suturd profunda, aperturd avail, 

 antice subeffusd, columella recta, antice subrejiexd, sub- 

 expansd, posiice uniplicatd, labro simplici. 



The brown Pyramidella. Shell elongately subulate, 

 smooth, longitudinally lightly striated, brown, whorls 

 flattened, numerous, slightly crenulated at the suture, 

 the last rounded, suture deep, aperture oval, rather 

 expanded in front, columella straight, reflected in 

 front, expanded, with a single plait placed backwards, 

 outer lip simple. 



A. Adams, Sowerby's Thes. Conch. Obeliscus sp. 20. 



Ilab. Japan ; I'r, Siebold. 



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



Pyramidella elegans. Pyr. testa subulatd, eleyanter 

 pyramidatd, fulvd, Icevigatd, lined rubra pallida 

 cinctd, anfractihis plano-suhconcavis, ultimo anyiilato, 

 suturd profunda, aperturd subtrigond, columella tor- 

 tuosd, uniplicatd, labro vix incrassaio. 



The elegant Pyramidella. Shell subulate, elegantly 

 tapering, yellowish-brown, smooth, girt with a pale- 

 red line, whorls flattened, almost concave, the last 

 angular, suture deep, aperture rather trigonal, co- 

 lumella tortuous, one-plaited, outer lip very slightly 

 thickened. 



A. Adams, Sowerby's Thes. Conch. Obeliscus sp. 14. 



Hab. Singapore ; Lieut. Taylor. 



In this, as in some of the s\icceeding species, the angle 

 of the whorls being formed above the suture, produces a 

 deep depression or channel. The columella may be said 

 almost to consist of one spiral plait. 



Species 3. (Mus. Cuming.) 



Pyramidella turrita. Pyr. testa pyramidatd, turritd, 

 Icevigatd, pallidissime fulvd, anfractibus numerosis, 

 planulaiis, supra ad suturas albis, minute crenulatis, 

 infra ad suturam excavatis, tiltimo rotunda, lined im- 

 pressd cincto, aperturd angustd, ad basin canaliferd et 

 snbrostratd, columella rectd, triplicatd, labro tenui. 



The turreted Pyramidella. Shell tapering, tur- 

 reted, smooth, very pale yellowish-brown, whorls 

 numerous, flat, white and minutely crenulated above, 

 excavated at the suture below, the last rounded, girt 

 with an impressed line, aperture narrow, with a canal 

 at the base, where it is sUghtly beaked, columella 

 straight, with three folds, outer lip thin. 



A. Adams, Sowerby's Thes. Couch. Obeliscus sp. 9. 



Hab. Albrochos Island, North Australia (on stones, low 

 water) ; J. E. Bring. 

 This shell closely resembles, in most characters, P. teres, 



sp. C, but in that species tlie whorls are not crenulated at 



the sutures. 



October, 1865. 



