106 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



OF THE VOLVTA. GENUS XXHI. 



VOLUTA. 



" Animal a Limax. Shell one-celled, spiial ; aperture not lengthened, some- 

 what hollowed; pillar with folds; iip with no hollow." — Linn. 



There is a great variety in the form of the mouth as well as 

 in the shape of the shells which are arranged together under 

 tliis genus. Some, as V. Oliva, po7'phyria, &c., are nearly 

 allied to the genus Conns ; in others, as V. Cymhium, Olla, 

 &c., the form of the mouth approaches to that of tlie Bulla 

 Ampulla and lignaria. V. marginata resembles a Cypt'eea, 

 and V. reticulata, canceUafa, &c., scarcely can be said to 

 differ from the Buccina ; while some others, like V. Pyrum, 

 liave the aperture ending in a straight canal, which is the 

 essential character of the Murex ; and Auris Midce and. some 

 others differ but little from the Helix. 



The essential character of the Valuta is considered to be the 

 folds on the pillar lip, or, as they are oftentimes called, the 

 teeth. These folds or teeth are in some species oblique, as in 

 V. indica and Cymhium ; and in others transverse, as V. mu- 

 sica ; while in several they are very obscure, if not wanting, 

 as V. rustica, mercenaria, Tringa, &c. 



This is by no means a natural genus ; and as almost every 



