118 LITTORINIDiE. 



Mjcgilliv. Moll. Abenl. p. J 51. — Brown, Illust. Coiuli. 

 G. B. p. 129. 

 liissoa semistriata, Joii:<SToy, Berwick. Club, vol. i. p. '271.— jMacgilliv. Moll. 

 Abeid. p. 149.— Brown, Illust. Conch. G. B. p. 11, 

 pi. 9, f. 3. 

 „ subsulcata, Philippi, Moll. Sicil. vol. ii. p. 1 29, pi. 23, f. 1 6 (from 

 specimens). 



The greater or lesser extent of the sculptured surface, 

 and the distinctness or obsoleteness (from abrasion or 

 bleaching) of the coloured markings, have caused the 

 appearance of this easily recognised species under several 

 appellations. It is distinguished from several shells that 

 approach it in painting, by its peculiar shortness and 

 comparative solidity. It is of an ovate-conic shape, rather 

 strong, moderately glossy, semi-transparent, and of a white 

 or pale fulvous tint, marked with spiral series of squarish 

 or elongated spots of rufous or yellowish brown, and 

 encircled with strongly impressed and not very densely 

 disposed stria, which rarely occupy the entire surface, 

 but are chiefly perceptible upon the base of the body 

 and immediately beneath the upper sutures. The first 

 stria or two beneath each divisional line is peculiarly 

 profound ; the smaller turns are often traversed, likewise, 

 by obsoletely raised longitudinal v/rinkles. The spots 

 of the upper row are the larger, and run immediately 

 under the broad and profound suture ; a second smaller 

 (and upon the lesser volution less distinct) set follow 

 them at some little distance, and are succeeded upon 

 the body-whorl by a third and closely adjacent series, 

 but the last two are apt to become confluent ; these co- 

 loured markings do not extend to the extreme base of 

 the shell. The spire is composed of five decidedly convex, 

 or subventricose whorls, which rapidly slope to a some- 

 what obtuse point ; their longitudinal increase is rather 



