486 IIALlOTIDiK. 



Aurits marina S^f. Martini, Conch. Cab. vol. i. pp. 187, lo<3, pi. 16, f. 14<i, 



14.9. 

 Iluliotls vulgaris. Da Costa, Brit. Conch, p. 15, pi. 2, f, 1, 2. 



The colouring of this shell, which is not much swollen, 

 and whose shape is oval, or oboval, is peculiarly variable, 

 scarcely any two specimens being precisely alike. The com- 

 ponent colours of its painting are green and red, with an occa- 

 sional mottling of white. The green is generally bluish or 

 olivaceous, the red ranges from purplish to brownish rufous, 

 but is more frequently of a brick colour : these hues either 

 shade into each other, or angulated patches or cloudy 

 markings of the darker tint adorn the paler one. The ex- 

 terior in some individuals is flatly costellated, the intervals 

 of the ribs being almost linear ; plano-convex unequal cos- 

 tellae, whose interstices are about as broad as the finer of 

 them, cover the surface of other, and chiefly aged, examples; 

 the sculpture in some, again, is so close and fine that the 

 exterior is rather striato-sulcated than ribbed. Neither the 

 raised nor the level portions of the surface can be termed 

 cancellated, but most minute and densely disposed longi- 

 tudinal striulse are occasionally perceptible. There is 

 usually a slight retusion of surface midway between the 

 foraminal tubercles and the spire ; the former are mo- 

 derately prominent, and tolerably large ; from six to 

 eight are open ; the perforations are in general oval or 

 rounded oval. Beyond these is a rather broad and 

 strongly indicated shallow channel, or excavated area, 

 whose limit is well defined hy a coarse rib, succeeded by 

 other similar but less strong ones. Some wavy longi- 

 tudinal folds are occasionally present, but the surface is 

 more frequently only undulated at the stages of increase. 

 The spire is remarkably small, the body or final volu- 

 tion being most abruptly enlarged ; it is obliquely and 



