58 AMERICAN JOURNAL 



As a commencement of this portion of tlie ^yorl^:, we may 

 mention the group of shells of which the Ranella caudata of 

 Sa}^, and the R. muriciformis of Broderip are examples, 

 which was named Eupleura by H. & A. Adams,* as a sub- 

 genus of Bursa (RaneUa). This group, which forms a good 

 genus, proves to be nearly allied to Ocinehra. We add a 

 figure of the lingual dentition of E. caudata. (plate 8, fig. 5.) 



To the ]\Juricida3 we have also the following genus to add, 

 which appears to have as yet received no name. 



UROSALPINX,! nov. gen. 



Type, U. ciXEEEA. 



Fasus cinereus Say, Amer. Conch., pi. xxix., the two mid- 

 dle figures. 



Shell elongated oval, or short fusiform, longitudinally ribbed 

 or undulated and spirally striated ; aperture with a short 

 canal. Operculum somewhat like that of Purpura^ semi-cor- 

 date, with the nucleus at the outer edge a little below the 

 middle. Lingual dentition (plate 8, fig. 6) nearly like that of 

 Trophov, the lateral teeth having an elongate base of attach- 

 ment ; but the rhachidian tooth has numerous minute denticles 

 between the principal ones, corresponding to ridges on the 

 surface of the tooth, as in the Murices. Ova-capsules (fig. 7) 

 oblong, shouldered, widest near the summit, compressed, cari- 

 nated on either side, peduncle short ; base of attachment 

 very small ; aperture median at the summit.:}: 



It differs from Trophon in its operculum, and from Ocinehra 

 in its smoother shell, want of varices, and open canal. 



* Genera of Recent MoUusca, I., p. 107. It is doubtful whether we are 

 required to adopt the name Eupleura, and several others among the names 

 given by H. & A. Adams to groups of shells supposed to be of generic 

 value. For, in the cases referied to, the authors cannot strictly be consi- 

 dered to have given a determinable type or example, which is necessary 

 for the acceptance of a generic name by the scientific world. They indeed 

 give a list of species, with authorities, but without references to dcscrip- 

 tons, and with no mention of the genus to which the species was origi- 

 nally referred. For instance, the first species of Eu/ileura mentiored is 

 simply " cuu/io/o. Say" ; but we may search in vain through Say's works 

 for any such name as " Eupleura caudata,''' or even '' Bursa caudata.'" Out 

 of courtesy, indeed, many of the names so proposed by H. &, A. Adams 

 will be adopted when the genera prove to be good, if collateral knowledge 

 enables us, as in the present instance, to form a tolerably correct surmise 

 as to the type ; but it is highly desirabie that the typical species should be 

 much more clearly indicated in future. 



f olpk, Cauda ; c-rtXTrivf, buccina. 



X^n the form of the ovacapsules we find an important difTeience between 

 the Muricidffi and the BuccinidEe. In the former group they are more or 

 less pedunculated and erect, while in the latter they are flattened, discoidal, 

 adhering by the broad flat base, and generally occur piled upon one another 

 in masses. 



