UNIVALVES. VOLUTA. 83 



woods and swamps of India, and are numbered among 

 the rarities of the genus. The last is an inhabitant of 

 New Caledonia. 



The fusiform or spindle-shaped volutes constitute a 

 large portion of the genus, and are usually known by the 

 name of mitres ; some of them are very elegantly formed 

 and finely tinted in their coloring. The species most 

 worthy of remark are the V. patriarchalis, the V. cardi- 

 nalis, V. papalis, and V, episcopalis or bishop's mitre, 

 which is frequently found in India ; the inhabitant or fish is 

 said to be of a poisonous nature, and to wound with a 

 kind of pointed trunk those who touch it. The natives 

 of the island of Tanna fix these shells in handles, and use 

 them as hatchets. Among the rest of the elongated form 

 may be enumerated the V. sanguisuga, V. caffra, V. vul- 

 pecula, and V. plicaria, some of which are considered 

 rare. 



The V. musica, or music shell, though not rare, is very 

 interesting, from the circumstance of having its markings 

 arranged in parallel lines, like the lines or a stave in mu- 

 sic, upon which are placed small dots or punctures, in 

 exact resemblance of the notes and other characters used 

 in music. The wild music or bat Volute (V. vespertilio) 

 is a curious variety of the above; as is also the V. Hebraea, 

 which is esteemed a rarity. 



Among the more beautiful species of the Volutes, are 

 the V. vexillum or orange flag Volute, V. imperialis, V. 

 pacifica, the V. lapponica, V. scapha, and V. Magel- 

 lanica. 



The species of Volutes called Melons are mostly of a 

 large size; and some of them, as the V. ^thiopica or 

 Ethiopian crown, and its varieties, have their whirls or 

 spires surrounded with elevated hollow spines, forming a 



G 'i 



