NEPTUNEA. 113 



I saw the single specimen from which the above generic descrip- 

 tion was made, when in London, in 181*7, and was immediate!}' 

 convinced that the conical form, flattened shonlders and sinus 

 were all due to distorted growth. In the Annals of the Malacol. 

 Soc. of Belgium is figured a monstrosity of Strombus Luhuamis, 

 which I have copied for^ comparison (figs. 240, 241 ). I may here 

 also include a notice of Pt/7'ula Bengalina^ Grrat., evidently also 

 a monstrosity, 



Pyrula Bengalina, Grat. PL 44, fig. 242. 



Thin, fragile, transversely striate ; white, maculated with 

 yellowish red ; initial whorls cancellated ; aperture subviolaceous ; 



lip thin, ver}- acute at edge. Length, 50 mill. 



Bay of Bengal. 



Genus NEPTUNEA, Bolten. 



The shells of this genus ai-e boreal in distribution, and like the 

 other circumpolar genera, are nearly destitute of color, being- 

 white or yellowish, under a light brown or yellowish, rather 

 smooth epidermis. The sculpture, when there is any, consists 

 of revolving stride, ridges or ribs, and the lip of the aperture is 

 smooth within or merely modified by the external sculpture when 

 the shell is thin. In the genus Siphonalia^ the species of which 

 are mainly Japanese and Australian, the general form is similar, 

 but the shell is nodose, frequently developing longitudinal ribs, 

 and the outer lip is more disposed to be crenulate ; the surface is 

 more usually ornamented with color, disposed in bands, etc. 

 There are some species which can be only arbitrarily placed, 

 having characters partaking of either genus ; and in fact geo- 

 graphical considerations must sometimes be allowed considerable 

 weight in assigning such species to their respective genera. 



Some of the species are apparently very variable, and it is 

 difficult to decide whether the conservative views of Gwyn Jef- 

 frej's and Kobelt, or the more extreme views of Morch, etc.. are 

 most in accordance with truth. 



N. antiqua, Linn. PI. 45, figs. 243-246. 



Whorls rounded, the apical ones obscuiely carinated, closely 

 marked with revolving striae. White, interior yellowish. 



Length, 3'5-'7 inches. 

 15 



