312 REPORT ON ALBATROSS MOLLUSC A DALL. 



branous protoconch adhering to the first whorl. As suggested by me 

 from a study of the nuclei of Aurinia, the pillar of the protoconch and 

 the apical spur of the larval shell coincide. The shape of the pro- 

 toconch could not be ascertained, but its aperture was probably oval, 

 from its traces left on the shelly surface. The apex is at first very 

 sharp, but it loses substance even in the ovicapsule, and three-whorled 

 specimens had it quite blunted, while shells escaped from the capsule 

 show usually a mammillary tip at all stages. The largest larva ob- 

 tained, though it had just begun to make part of the shell showing- 

 color pattern, was still without cephalic tentacles, eyes, or siphoual ap- 

 pendages. It had no trace of an operculum or epipodiura. The shell 

 showed two plaits on the columella. The confirmation of the existence 

 of the suspected protoconch is particularly gratifying. The larval 

 characters emphasize the differences between Voluta proper and Scap- 

 hella, and leave no doubt of the propriety of their generic separation. 

 The turbinate, shelly, peculiarly sculptured larval shell of Voluta is en- 

 tirely different trom anything we find in Scaphella. 



The ovicapsules containing young larvae were dredged from a depth 

 of about 80 fathoms. The larval shell figured had attained a length of 



11 mm 



This species, described by Sowerby, is not the Voluta magellanica, 

 etc., of Chemnitz, a nou binomial author. Chemnitz states in his syn- 

 onymy that his shell is the Voluta ancilla of Solander, in the Catalogue 

 of the Portland Collection ; and that he is right is continued by his ex- 

 cellent figure, which agree perfectly with Sowerbv's figure of V. ancilla. 

 Sowerby does not refer to Chemnitz, who, not adopting the Linnean 

 nomenclature, was in no case entitled to priority. The 8. magellanica 

 is much like the 8. ancilla, from which it is chiefly distinguished by its 

 smaller size, more slender form, and usually fewer plaits. 



Scaphella ? brasiliana Solander. 

 Plate ix, Fig. 2. 



The most extraordinary ovicapsule in the Albatross collection also be- 

 longs to the Volutidw, and after careful study I am disposed to refer it 

 to the species generally known as Scaphella brasiliana Solander. 



This ovicapsule is oblate-spheroidal in shape, a view from above giving 

 a perfectly circular outline, while from the side the profile is a symmet- 

 rical oval. It is yellowish in color but nearly transparent, thin, with a 

 smooth, polished surface like that of wet gelatine, and possesses con- 

 siderable rigidity. It is sufficiently rigid to retain its form perfectly 

 under considerable pressure, and would probably crush rather than 

 bend to a force too great to be resisted. It was filled with a fluid, prob- 

 ably not very different from sea-water, and contained a single bubble 

 of air, which, by its lightness remaining in the dome of the capsule, 

 just about counterbalanced the weight; so that, without rising to the 

 surface, the capsule would float iu the sea at a moderate depth. This 



