OF CONCPIOLOGY. 59 



The typical species has been considered hy some as a 

 Fusus, on account of the length of the canal, by others as a 

 Buccinuw, on account of the form of the operculum. It is 

 described by Grould in the " Invertebrata of Massachusetts," 

 under the name of Buccinumplicosuvi. Its dentition proves it 

 to belong- to the MuricidiB. It is littoral in its habits and is 

 found on the Eastern coast of the United States, from Maine 

 to Florida. 



Fam. PTYCHATEACTID.E. 



This new group is proposed for the reception of the folloAv- 

 ing genus, which will not fall into any of the Hamiglossate 

 families as yet named. Its dentition resembles that of the 

 Purpuridte more than that of any other family, but the form 

 of the shell and operculum forbid its approximation to that 

 group. 



PTYCHATRACTUS*, nov. gen. 



Type, p. LiGATUS. 



Fasciolaria ligata Mighels & Adams. Boston Journal Nat- 

 ural History, iv., 1842, p. 51, pi. iv., f. 17. 



Shell fusiform, spirally striated ; aperture with a rather long- 

 canal ; columella plicated as in Fasciolaria. Operculum like 

 that oi Neptunea. Lingual teeth, (plate 8, fig. 8,) 1- 1- 1 ; rha- 

 chidian tooth deeply arched, with three strong denticles at the 

 middle of the anterior edge ; lateral teeth versatile, greatly 

 elongated, simple, with a swollen base and hook-shaped 

 extremity. 



This mollusk, in the character of its lingual dentition, is 

 widely removed from the Fasciolariidfe, in which the lateral 

 teeth are not versatile. The only knoAvn species is found in 

 deep water, off the coasts of Maine and Nova Scotia, and has 

 also occurred in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 



Fam. BUCCINID^E. 



Sub-fam. NEPTUNIIN^. 



Shell more or less beaked. Operculum ovate, nucleus 

 apicial. 



The Xeptunise and their allies are so very closely allied to 

 the true Buccina in their lingual dentition, in the form of the 

 soft parts and of the ovacapsules, and in many other characters, 

 that they should doubtless be arranged in the same family. 

 They may, however, be kept separate from the Buccinum 

 group, as a subfamily, on account of the different form of the 

 operculum, the canaliculated aperture of the shell, and the 

 position of the eyes. 



* riTV^t plica, a.~iialirc;,fuSUS. 



