120 MANUAL OF THE MOLLUSCA. 



Types, M. episcopalis, PI. VII., fig. 13. M. viilpecula, fig. 14. 



Shell fusiform, thick ; spire elevated, acute ; apcrtui-e smaU, uotcliecl iu 

 front ; colimiella obKquely plaited ; operculum very small. 



The animal has a very long proboscis ; it emits a purple liquid, having a 

 nauseous odour, when irrritated. The eyes are placed on the tentacles, or at 

 their base. Range, from low water to 15 fathoms, more rarely in 13 — 80 

 fathoms. 



Distr., 350 sp. Philippines, India, Red Sea, Medit., W. Africa, Green- 

 land (1 sp.). Pacific, W. America. The extra-tropical species are minute. 

 M. Greenlandica and M. cornea (Medit. sp.) are foimd together in the latest 

 British Tertiaries (Forbes.) 



Fossil, 90 sp. Chalk—. liidia, Brit., Prance, &c. 



Sub-genera. Imbricaria, Schmn. (conoelix, Sw.) 



Shell, cone-shaped. I. conica, PL VII., fig. 15. 



Cylhiclra, Schmn. (Mitrella, Sw.) 



Shell, oHve-shaped. C. crenulata, PI. VIL, fig. 16. 



VoLVAKiA, Lam. 

 Btym., volva, a wrapper. 

 Tyfe, V. buUoides, PI. VII., fig. 1?. 



Shell cylindrical, convolute ; spire minute ; apertm'c long and narrow ; 

 columella with 3 oblique plaits in fi-ont. 

 Fossil, 5 ? sp. Eocene. Brit., France. 



Margin ELLA, Lam. 



Etym., diminutive of margo, a rim. 



Syn., porcellana (Adans.) Gray. Persicula, Schum. 



Tyfes, M. nubeculata, PL VIL, fig. 18. M. persicula, fig. 19. 



Shell, smooth, bright ; spii'e short or concealed ; aperture truncated in 

 front ; columella plaited ; outer Hp (of adidt) v\ith a thickened margin. 

 Animal similar to cyprsea. 



Bistr., 90 sp. Tropical, W. Indies, Brazil, Medit. (1 smaU sp.) W. 

 Afiica, Cliina, Australia. 



Fossil, 30 sp. Eocene — . France, &c. 



Sub-genus. Hyalina, Schmn. Oiiter lip scarcely thickened. 



Ty2)e, voluta paUida, Mont., W. Indies. 



FAMILY VI. (Jypr.eid^. Cowries. 



Shell convolute, enamelled ; spu-e concealed ; aperture narrow, channelled 

 at each end ; outer lip (of adult) thickened, inflected. No operculum. 



Animal with a broad foot, truncated in front ; mantle expanded on each 

 side, forming lobes, which meet over the back of the shell ; these lobes are 

 usually ornamented with tentaculai' filaments; eyes on the niidiUe of the ten- 

 tacles or near their base ; branchial plume single. Lingual ribbon long. 



