10 NICULID/E. 



stronger, less inequilateral, with more decided dorsal slopes, more 

 ventricose, aud only compressed near the hinder termination. The , 

 hinder side only occupies three-fif hs of the total length, and tapers 

 more abruptly than in the preceding species : tlie concentric 

 wrinkles are less obsolete. Tlie epidermis, which is scarcely 

 glossy, is dusky-olive (with oftentimes a yellowish basal zone) on 

 the mature shell, and oil-yellow on the young. The beaks are 

 prominent, and the escutcheon broad. Far. Peculiarly broad 

 and subtriangular. 



16. L. MiNUTA, Mallei-, f. 61, 6;i. — T. subovato-conica, ])os- 

 tice abbreviato-rostrata, insequilateralis, cute vix nitente olivacea 

 induta, liris conceiitricis (quarum interstitia aliquantum sunt 

 latiora) subdensis undique striata ; plica umbonali planulat^. 

 Margo dorsalis uterque declivis. Area magna, sublaevigata, 

 acute deiinita. Denies baud permulti (siepe 10-12). — Subovate- 

 conic, more or less subventricose (when young, however, com- 

 pressed), scarcely gaping, with a flattened umbonal ridge that is 

 retuse in the middle, and (in the more ventricose individuals) a 

 more or less perceptible imlented and little slanting anterior ray, 

 clothed with a rather dull epidermis, that ranges in tint from olive- 

 brown to olivaceous-yellow ; everywhere (the dorsal areas excepted) 

 sculptured by rather close and even lyrs, which are narrower than 

 their simple intervals. Anterior side filling about two-fifths of 

 the entire length, almost symmetrically rounded. Posterior side 

 more or less briefly beaked; the rostral tip narrow, biangular, 

 subcentral. Dorsal slopes moderate, the front one nearly straight, 

 the hinder one more or less curved. Ventral margin more or less 

 arched, always rising behind ; the rostral refusion sHght. Escut- 

 cheon large, carinately defined, smooth, or obscurely grooved. 

 Teeth not numerous (often ten to twelve). Var. tum'ula. Ven- 

 tricose, almost pear-shaped, the slopes very decided. Var. com- 

 jjlanata. Flatter, more produced, the dorsal slopes and ventral 

 arcuation less decided. 



17. L. CAUDATA, Donovan, f. 60. — T. subovato-rostrata, in- 

 sequilateralis, cute lutea induta, undique arete et argute lirata. 

 E.\tremitas rostri abrupte coarctata, aliquantum recurvata. Margo 

 dorsalis uterque declivis ; anticus convexus ; posticus retusus. 

 Area magna, sublaevigata, acute deiinita. — Peaked ovate or ob- 

 long, usually rather compressed and devoid of an indented ray, at 

 times subventricose, with an oil-yellow epidermis, everywhere with 

 regular and even concentric lyrse (except upon the dorsal areas), 

 which are narrower than their intervals. Extremity of the ante- 



