MANUAL OF OONCHOLOGY. 



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Family TRITONID^. 



Shell with A-arices, which are either few and irregularly dis- 

 posed ( Triton ) or form a continuous row crossing the whorls on 

 opposite sides (Bancl/a). The number of varices does not exceed 

 two to each whorl, whilst in Miirex the smallest number is three. 

 Operculum annular, with sub-apical or central nucleus. Mantle 

 enclosed, siphon straight, foot small. Lingual membrane with 

 teeth in seven rows (3-1-3), like the Doliidtv, etc. (The Muricida* 

 have the teeth 1-1-1). The dentition is illustrated on plate 2. 



1 have already stated the reasons which induce me to place the 

 Tritonidie in close connection with the Muricid?e, 3'et forming a 

 passage to the Cassididje and Doliida^, rather than arrange them 

 with the latter groups. See Vol. II, p. (u. 



The Tritonidte first positively appeared in the eocene strata; 

 the genus Spinigera d'Orb., from the cretaceous, being now 

 referred, more correctly I think, to the family Strombidae, and 

 Trachi/triton Meek, also cretaceous, does not belong certainly to 

 the fiimily. 



Si/)H)psis of Genera. 



TRITON, Montfort. Shell oblong ; spire prominent, whorls with a few 

 remote and non-continuous vai'ices ; columella rough or smooth ; canal 

 recurved, short or long ; outer lip internally crenated or denticulated. 

 More than a hundred recent species have been characterized. 



DISTORSIO, Bolten. Shell subturreted ; whorls distorted ; aperture 

 irregulai-, contracted, ringent ; canal recurved ; inner lip dilated, 

 lamellar, rugosely plicated ; columella excavated, verrucosely plicate ; 

 outer lip sinuous, internally plicate-dentate. 



