VOLUTA. 993 
be a fitting representation; Bonanni’s, which was quoted only 
in the twelfth edition of the ‘Systema,’ and like most of the 
additional references to works already consulted, not over 
wisely, is scarcely recognisable, and bears about an equal 
likeness to the Tornatella tornatilis / 
Voluta cancellata. 
An assortment of synonyms more heterogeneous than the one 
which accompanies the present species has rarely embarrassed 
a student. Gualtier alone exhibits four distinct shells of three 
different genera! none of which can be positively pronounced 
identical with the three figures of Seba, nor look like Adanson’s 
engraving either. Were the drawings more accurate one might 
- arrive at a sound conclusion, but for the most part they are 
very rude and unsatisfactory. Naturalists probably worked out 
the species somewhat after this manner. The p and &£ of 
Gualtier must be excluded, because they do not display folds 
on the columella; Seba 45, 46 are also quoted for Murex sen- 
ticosus, and look more like it; Seba 48 is too elongated for 
“ovata;” Gualtier B, c are Cancellarie, but of what species 
cannot be well determined (8 is irrecognisable, c reminds one of 
crenifera), yet they both, as well as all Seba’s figures, display the 
latticed sculpture of C. cancellata, which shell Adanson most 
decidedly intended his drawing to represent, as his description 
clearly manifests. Now the last-named Cancellaria possesses 
all the required features, and may consequently be regarded as 
the species designed; the locality, moreover, is correct. By 
some such train of reasoning, if it deserve the name, has the 
generally accepted recognition been arrived at: and the correct- 
ness of the deduction is demonstrated by the presence of that 
shell (Sow. Thes. Conch. vol. 11. pl. 94, f. 51) in the Linnean 
cabinet (as declared in the list), where, of the objects therein 
contained, it alone answers to the description. Linnzus had 
intended to remove it, along with reticulata, to the vicinity of 
V. capitellum, having written “ post 431 locanda” in his revised 
copy of the ‘Systema.’ 
