GO AMERICAN JOURNAL 



To the sub-family NeptuniiniB as separated from tlae IMuri- 

 cidae on a previous page, Ave liave to add two genera which 

 have been erroneously placed, hitherto, in widely different 

 groups. 



PERISTERNIA Moerch. 



The first of these is Peristernia of Moerch,* which has been 

 referred to the Turbinellidiie. In this genus, however, the late- 

 ral teeth of the lingual ribbon are versatile, and the entire 

 structure of the animal is similar to that of Neptunea. We 

 add a figure (plate 9, fig. 9,) of the teeth of a species found on 

 the coast of Georgia. 



This case, with that of Ptvcli air actus and Coins, will serve 

 to show that by far too much dependence has been placed, in 

 classification, upon the presence or absence of folds upon the 

 columella of the shell. 



BUSYCON Bollen. 



To the Xeptuniinw we have also to refer the genus Biisycon 

 of Bolten {=Fulgur, IMontfort.) The systematic position of 

 this genus has been thus far involved in doubt. Dr. Gray 

 places it in the CassidulidaB.f 



Dr. P. P. Carpenter makes the following remarks:}; with 

 regard to this very natural group of large gasteropods, which 

 is confined, geographically, to the eastern shores of America. 

 " Whether it speaks well for the zeal of American Naturalists 

 that these large species, which can be so easily examined, should 

 be abundant in collections as far as the shell is concerned, but 

 as yet undescribed from the living animals, must be for others 

 to determine." And further: — "Whether they have a whelk- 

 like dentition, or whether they are Fasciolariae with undevel- 

 oped plaits, cannot be told till their animals have been 

 dissected." 



Having recently had an opportunity of examining the 

 animals in question, we hasten to remove the stigma upon 

 "the zeal of American naturalists," who, unlike their European 

 brethren, are surrounded by such an abundance of new 

 materials, that it is hardly surj^rising that so much lies 

 uninvestigated at their doors. We cannot do everything at 

 once. Dr. Carpenter's first conjecture is right — the Busycous 

 have a "whelk-like dentition." PI. 9, fig. 10 represents that 

 of B. fyrum. In this species we have a rather narrow rhac- 

 hidian tooth, armed with three strong denticles, and a -I-den- 



* Cat. Yoldi Coll., 1852, p. 99. Type Turbinella craticulaia Schubert & 

 Wagner; Kiener pi. ix., f. 2. 

 f Guide, I., p. 11. 

 :]; Lectures on Mollusca, p. 32. 



