99 



that function so soon after its ejection from the ovary ". It has been ima- 

 gined also, that the periodical development of varices indicates the changes 

 of the seasons ; but, repeats M. Deshayes, " the canaliferous tribes dwell in 

 a climate where there is scarcely any variation of season, and the tempera- 

 ture of the waters the same all the year round". 



Although the genus Banella has no very high claim to distinction, there 

 is no group in the series whose generic aspect appears more acurately denned 

 to the eye of the common observer ; the lateral continuity of the varices 

 imparts a peculiarity to the shell not easily confounded with any other. 

 The species assimilate very much in sculpture ; the rarest and most ex- 

 quisite in form is the well-known ' Finned Frog ' Ranellapulchra. 



The monograph of this genus published in the ' Conchologia Iconica ' 

 includes fifty species; the greater portion inhabit the eastern seas, the 

 Philippine and Molucca Islands, some are from California and the West Coast 

 of South America, but the largest, singularly enough, exists at the northern 

 limit of the genus, in the Mediterranean. 



1. affinis, Brod. 



2. albifasciata, Sow. 



3. albivaricosa, Reeve. 



4. anceps, Lam. 



5. argus, id. 



6. bitubercularis, id. 



7. bufonia, id. 



8. cselata, Brod. 



9. Californica, Hinds. 



10. candisata, Lam. 



11. caudata, Say. 



12. coriacea, Reeve. 



13. crassa, Desk. 



14. cruentata, Sow. 



15. crumena, Lam. 



16. cuspidata, Reeve. 



17. elegans, Beck. 



18. foliate, Brod. 



Species. 



19. gigantea, Lam. 



20. granifera, id. 



21. gyrinus, Desk. 



22. hastula, Reeve. 



23. leucostoma, id. 



24. livida, Reeve. 



25. laevigata, Lam. 



26. margaritula, Desk. 



27. Muriciformis, Brod. 



28. nana, Sow. 



29. neglecta, id. 



30. nitida, Brod. 



31. nobilis, Reeve. 



32. pectinate, Hinds. 



33. plicate, Reeve. 



34. ponderosa, id. 



35. pulchra, Gray. 



36. pusilla, Brod. 



37. pustulosa, Reeve. 



38. pyramidalis, Brod. 



39. rhodostoma, Beck. 



40. rosea, Reeve. 



41. rugosa, Sow. 



42. semigranosa, Lam. 



43. siphonata, Reeve. 



44. spinosa, Lam. 



45. subgranosa, Beck. 



46. triquetra, Reeve. 



47. tuberculata, Brod. 



48. tuberosissima, Reeve. 



49. ventricosa, Brod. 



50. venustula, Reeve. 



51. verrucosa, Sow. 



52. vexillum, id. 



Figure. 



Ranella foliata. Plate 9. Fig. 44.— Shell showing the continuous 

 arrangement of the varices from the apex downwards on either side. — 

 From Mr. Cuming's collection. 



B o 



