UNIVALVES STROMBUS. 03 



called alatse or winged shells, or to continue it into long 

 and pointed claws: but these appearances are only mani- 

 fest in adult shells. 



The most prominent species of the division which has 

 the lips terminated by claws, are the following : S. chira- 

 gra, S. scorpius, S. lambis, and S.millepcda. The num- 

 ber of claws in the different species varies from six to ten, 

 but the S. pes-pelicani has only four. In some species they 

 are nearly straight, and often smooth, while in others they 

 are very much curved, and covered with waved nodules. 

 The growth of these shells is worthy of notice. It has 

 already been stated, that the very young shells have no 

 appearance of claws, whicli first shew themselves in the 

 form of short and open spouts; when the shells are farther 

 advanced in growth, they assume the shape they are to 

 retain, but are still thin, hollow, and imperfectly closed; 

 and it is only in the adults that they become solid, and 

 have a thick, strong, and horn-like appearance. 



Of the species of the second and third divisions, the 

 S. oniscus is totally destitute of a winged termination; 

 and the S, fasciatus, S. pugilis, and S. lentiginosus, exhi- 

 bit only faint indications of that character: but in the 

 S. gallus, S. auris-Dianae, S. latissimus, (a very rare spe- 

 cies), and S. gigas, it is remarkably prominent. Some 

 other species have nearly the same peculiarity: as the 

 S. epidromis, the S. vittatus, S. canarium, &c. These 

 latter species never grow to any magnitude, but some of 

 the former, as tlie S. latissimus and S. gigas, frequently 

 attain a considerable size. 



The S. luhuanus, S. gibberulus, &c. have some of 

 their whirls very gibbous, and on that account they are 

 often called Pouter-alati. Many of these are extremely 



