MONOGRAPH OF THE GENUS 



FUSUS. 



Testa canalifera, elongato- vel oblongo-fusiformis versus me- 

 dium, vel infra medium ventrieosa, epidermide indufca, 

 columella laevi, eanali aperto. Operculum corneum, nucleo 

 terminali. — The Fusi are distinguished from Fasciolarias and 

 Turbinellae by the absence of plaits or notches on the colu- 

 mella ; from Pyrulae by the ventricose part being at the middle 

 or slightly below, and from Trophons and Tritons by being in 

 no degree varicose or laminated. Latiaxis is a peculiar 

 genus in no danger of being mixed up with them, and the 

 lateral nucleus of the operculum and short twisted varicose 

 canal in Buccinum will generally distinguish that genus from 

 them. In grouping the various forms within the genus, the 

 difficulty is to find lines of demarcation ; still the true spindles, 

 with long spire and canal, may be called sect. 1, species 1 to 

 66. The shorter and more angular species will form sect. 2, 

 species 67 to 99. The more bulky, Buccinoid, mostly 

 Northern forms with short open canals, are considered by some 

 authors distinct, and form the genus Neptunea or Tiutoniuh, 

 and constitute sect. 3, species 100 to 117. The lighter, more 

 slender, and comparatively smooth, generally Northern species, 

 which have been distingirished as genus Sipho, sect. 4, species 

 118 to 132. 



