117 



NOTE ON THE ANATOMY OF VOLUTA ANCILLA (Sol.), NEFTUNE- 

 OPSIS GILCSRISTI, Sby., AND VOLUTILITHES ABYSS1C0LA 

 (Ad. & Eve.). 



By Martin F. "Woodward, 



Demonstrator of Zoology, Royal College of Science, London. 



Read 6th April, 1900. 



PLATE X. 



TnROTJGn the kindness of Mr. G. B. Sowerby, I have received the soft 

 parts of two very interesting molluscs, viz., Neptuneopsis Gilchristi, 

 Sby., and Volutilithes ahyssicola (Ad. & Rve.), neither of which 

 have been previously obtained. Since these two molluscs present 

 a number of interesting features, I have appended a fairly exhaustive 

 account of their anatomy, and for comparison have given also 

 a description of Voluta {Cymbiola) ancilla (Sol.), two specimens of 

 which were kindly placed at my disposal by Mr. E. A. Smith. 



Our knowledge of the anatomy of the Volutidre is very meagre, and, 

 save for two accounts, is practically confined to the external form 

 and to the radula. We are, however, indebted to Quoy & Gaimard 1 

 and Bouvier 2 for some anatomical information on this family, though 

 unfortunately the figures of the first-named observers are so lacking 

 in detail and, I am afraid, in accuracy as to be practically worthless. 

 Bouvier's account, on the other hand, is very precise, and in it he 

 deals largely with the nervous system, but also describes the salivary 

 glands and some other organs. The form which he examined, 

 V. Neptuni, Gmelin, is, however, not a true Volute, but belongs to 

 the genus Melo. Unfortunately, the form which I am describing, 

 Voluta ancilla (Sol.), though a Volute, is to be referred to the subgenus 

 Cymbiola, so that a description of the anatomy of the type of the 

 genus Voluta is still wanting. 



A short summary of results of my observations on Neptuneopsis has 

 already appeared, 3 but the published account is much condensed, and 

 since it requires some correction I have taken the opportunity while 

 describing Volutilithes and Voluta to give a fuller description of the 

 anatomy of this curious form. The example of Neptuneopsis and the 

 Volutilithes are some of the first-fruits of the marine investigations 

 now being carried on at the Cape of Good Hope, and judging from 

 these early samples we may safely prophesy a great increase to our 

 knowledge of malacology, especially because those in charge of the 

 investigations are preserving the animal as well as the shells. 



1 Voyage de l'Astrolabe, vol. ii, pp. 621-632, and pi. xliv, figs. 9-11. 



2 Ann. Sci. Nat., Zool., ser. vn, torn, iii, pp. 301-306; and Bull. Soc. Philom. 



Paris, ser. vn, torn, xi, p. 102. 

 8 Marine Investigations in South Africa : Department Agriculture, Cape of Good 

 Hope, No. 5, 1898. 



