Fusus. 429 



increase of the three next whorls (the remainder of the 

 spire) is rapid ; they taper and become very slightly retuse 

 near the moderately slanting suture (which is profoundly 

 impressed, and slightly overlapped, as it were, by the 

 successive coils), and swell out considerably rather below 

 the middle. The ventricose, but not abruptly tumid, body, 

 which is fig-shaped, occupies about three-fifths of the 

 dorsal length; it gradually attenuates below, with a gentle 

 convex declination, to a broad short round-tipped beak, which 

 is not distinguished by any siphonal fold-like ridge. Owing 

 to the marked ascent of the acute and much expanded 

 outer lip, which is simply but prominently arcuated (not 

 displaying that basal interruption of its sweep that is usual 

 in beaked Fusi), the capacious aperture, which is devoid of 

 all sculpture, is enlarged so as to fill two-thirds or moi-e of 

 the ventral length : it is of an oblong oval shape, is acutely 

 peaked above, and more bluntly so below, where it termi- 

 nates in a remarkably broad short canal. The enamel of 

 the inner lip is rather widely diffused, and often of a whiter 

 cast than the rest of the surface. The course of the left 

 lip is at first gently convex, then moderately concave, and 

 finally curves slightly to the left. The pillar is solid 

 enough, but is somewhat loosely coiled. Four inches and 

 a-half for the length, and half that measurement for the 

 breadth may be considered the average dimensions of fine 

 examples. The operculum is very small, and somewhat 

 ovate. 



Of the spawn of this rare and interesting shell, the 

 following account is given by Mr. Howse, in the Annals of 

 Natural History : — " Only two were taken ; they are of a 

 subhemispherical form, about one inch in diameter, and are 

 agglutinated separately by a very thin, produced marginal 

 rim to the Inside of odd valves of Cardium ecMnatum. 



