UNIVALVES VOLUTA. 103 



VOLUTA. Volute or Wreath. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXIII. 



Div. I. — Fig. 5. V. glabra. Div. V. — Fam.l. Fig. 7- V. papalis. 



Div. II Fig. 3. V. marginata. Div. VII — Fam. 1. Fig. 8. V. vexillum. 



Div. III. — Fig. 2. V. persicula. Drv.VIII — Fam. 1. Fig. 1. V. ethiopica. 



Div. IV.— Fig. 4. V. cruenta. Div. IX Fig. 6. V. cancellata. 



Shell one-celled, spiral ; aperture without a beak, and someivhat 

 effuse; pillar twisted or plaited, gencralli/ without lips or per- 

 foration. 



THE genus Voluta is as remarkable for the beauty, as 

 for the variety of its species; it also presents a great di- 

 versity in form, but the shells may easily be recognised 

 by an attention to the following distinctive character. 



The Volutes have, without any exception, several 

 teeth or plaits on the columella or pillar lip. The 

 number of teeth is by no means uniform: on some 

 there are only four or five, while in others, particu- 

 larly in those of the fourth division, they frequently 

 amount to fifty; and it may be remarked, that the 

 teeth are less articulated according as they are more nu- 

 merous. 



The divisions of this genus are founded principally 

 on the great diversity of external character. The first 

 comprehends those species which have an ovate form, 

 and the aperture entire, resembling the shape of the hu- 

 man ear : the greater part of which are land-shells. The 

 distinction of the second division is, that the outer mar- 

 gin is thickened, and the aperture not quite entire. In 

 the third the aperture is eflTuse and linear. The shells of 



