256 CLASS III. GASTEROPODA. ORDER VII. PECTINIBRANCHIATA. 
under the sectional title of ‘‘ Les Gondoliéres.” The task of effecting a 
proper reformation in this portion of the Volutes was reserved for Broderip, 
and it is not without some consideration that we oppose ourselves to the 
too bigoted disciples of Lamarck in upholding his new arrangement. He 
regards them as susceptible of being divided into two very distinct and 
well-characterized genera, Melo and Cymba, and it is of the first of these 
which we have now to treat. The Melones or ‘‘ Melons” have a fine 
ventricose shell, attaining in some instances a very large size ; they are 
generally coronated with a handsome diadem of compressed vaulted 
spines, and exhibit for the most part a pleasant variety and distribution 
of pattern; the apex is moreover of a peculiarly papillary structure, 
and differs essentially from the rude and almost obsolete apex of the 
Cymbe. 
The shell of Melo may be further described as being nearly oval, and 
emarginated at the base; the aperture is large, the columella rather 
straight, the lowest plaits being the largest, and the lip is simple, acute, 
and never rolled back. 
Example. 
Pl. CCLXXXIII. 
Meto piapEeMA, Broderip. Martini, Conch., vol. ui. pl. 74. f. 780. En- 
clopédie Méthodique, pl. 388. f. 2. 
Voluta diadema, Lamarck. 
Voluta armata, var., Kiener. 
CYMBA, Broderip. 
Testa subampla, levis, oblonga, vel ovata, admodum ventricosa, ad 
basem emarginata, interdum tegmine quasi vitreo partim vel om- 
nino obducta ; spira brevissima, apice rudi, interdum obsoleto ; an- 
fractibus levibus, parte superiori concava, subito depressa, spirz 
apicem pene occultante ; apertura vel ovata, vel elongata, columella 
