Zoological Society. I37 



but for its possessing the generic characters of Tiara, it might pass 

 for the same species." 



It is one of the most slender of its genus, and has very much of 

 the general character and form of a Terebra ; and its resemblance to 

 Terebra is increased by the circumstance of its having one spiral 

 groove, more deeply impressed than the others, placed at about one 

 third of the length of each volution before the suture. The points 

 of contact of the decussating with the longitudinal grooves are deeply 

 impressed. 



There is a fine specimen in Mr. Broderip's collection. 



Mr. Sowerby has furnished me with the account of this species. 



Genus Conoelix (Swains.). Conoelix Virgo (representino- Conus 

 Virgo). 



The follo-ndng observations by Mr. Swainson elucidate his notes 

 in relation to the Mitres, appended to most of the characters of the 

 shells above named : — 



" To render my explanation of the notes and references attached to 

 the different species of the Mitrance more intelligible to concholoo-ists 

 it wiU be necessary for me to state, in as few words as possible, the 

 result of my investigation of this subfamily, aind the principles 

 which have regulated these numerical indications, 



" I have already, in another Avork, characterized the family Volu- 

 tid(E, which appears to be that primary division of the Carnivorous 

 Gasteropoda {Zoophaga, Lam. J, which represents the Rasorial type 

 among Birds, the Ungulata among Quadrupeds, and the Thysanura 

 among perfect Insects (Ftilota) : these analogies being of course 

 remote, although founded on the structure of the animal, no less 

 than on its testaceous covering. It thus follows that the Lamarck- 

 ian Mitre, instead of a genus, constitute a subfamily, which 

 appears to be the subtypical group of the circle. The five "-enera 

 composing this circle I have long ago characterized ; and here, for 

 some years, my analysis of the group terminated. The inspection, 

 however, of the numerous species brought home by Mr. Cumino-^ 

 and the gradually augmented number in my own cabinet, seemed to 

 invite a still further and more minute investigation, for the purpose 

 of ascertaining if any, and what, subgenera were contained in the 

 more crowded groups of Mitra and Tiara. This investigation was 

 carried on, at intervals, for nearly twelve months; and the result sur- 

 passed my most sanguine expectations. It has convinced me that not 

 only does each of the genera of the Mitrance represent analogically 

 the corresponding groups of the Volutins, but that the same rela- 

 tions can be demonstrated between the minor divisions of the "-enera 

 Tiara and those of Mitra : in other words, that these latter represent 

 all the subfamilies and genera of the other Volutidce, while they pre- 

 serve their own peculiar or generic character. What I have just 

 said on the parallel relations of analogy between the Mitrance and 

 the Volutidce, is strictly applicable, in fact, to the genera Mitra and 

 Tiara, the primary divisions of each of which can thus be deemon 

 strated subgenera. Nor is this all : the materials I have been for so 

 many years collecting have enabled me to ascertain, in very many 



