138 Notice of several species of Shells. 



The mouth would also be emarginate, was it not for the large, 

 callus which covers the body whirl, and unites the two lips. 

 I take it to be the shell indicated by Mr. Say, as the second 

 variety of his Natica duplicata, although it is without the 

 black line he mentions ; which, I believe, is often the case with 

 that species in its perfect state. Should the Natica patula 

 prove to be immature, Mr. Say will be entitled to the prior- 

 ity ; and however different the thin, fragil, and depressed shell 

 may, at first sight, appear from our thick, solid, and elevated 

 one, if intermediate links are found to connect them, they 

 ought all to be denominated Natica duplicata of Say ; as 

 we have already too many species enumerated in the sys- 

 tems ; species in the animal organization of which the nicest 

 scrutiny cannot detect a difference ; and it is, doubtless, upon 

 the animal organization that all true distinctions must ulti- 

 mately depend. 



4. Genus. VOLUTA. Lamarck. 



Shell ovate, more or less ventricose ; apex papillary ; base 

 emarginate, without channel. Pillar plaited; lower plaits 

 larger and more oblique. Without a pillar lip. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



The Lamarckian genera Auricula, Tornatella, Turbinella. 

 Cancellaria, Colombella, Mitra, Marginella, Volvaria, Ancil- 

 laria and Oliva, having been separated from the Linnsean ge- 

 nus Voluta, leave us but a comparatively small space in which 

 to search for a new species of this genus. This space is sub- 

 divided into four sections : 



1. Cymbiolce: Ventricose, as Voluta melo. 



2. Muricince : Oval and spinous or tuberculous, as Vol ta 

 itnperialis. 



3. Musicales : Oval and sub-tuberculous, as Voluta musica. 



