MARINE MOLLUSCA OP THE UNITED STATES. 23 



Genus SYCOTYPTJS, Browne. 

 Nat. Hist., Jamaica, 40G. 1756. 

 Busycon, Bolten, Morch, Yoldi, Cat. 104. 1853. 

 Ftilgur, Montfort, Concli. Syst., ii. 502. 1810. 

 Pynila, Lam. (part.) Prodr. 1799. 



Sliell pyriform, thin, last whorl large, nodulous or spinose ; spire 

 very short; aperture large, subtriangular ; canal open, elongated, 

 entire at the forepart; inner lip concave, with a single fold ante- 

 riorly ; outer lip internally striated. 



The species are mostly American and are principally southern. 

 Recent authorities have separated the shells with canaliculated 

 sutures under the generic name Si/cofi/pus, leaving the other spe- 

 cies to constitute the genus Fulcjur = Busycon. As I fail to ap- 

 preciate the necessity for this division I have reunited them under 

 the name of Si/cofypus. 



* Canaliculate around the suture. 



1. S. CANALicuLATUS, LinnfEus. Figs. 26, 27. 



(Murex.) Syst. Nat., edit. xii. 1222. 

 Pyrula canaliculata, Brug., Ency. Meth. Vers. iii. 866, t. 436, f. 3. 

 Pyrula spirata, Kiener, Iconog., t. 10, f. 1. 

 Sycotypus canaliculatus^ Gill., Am. Journ. Concli. iii. 149. 1867. 



Shell large, pear-shaped, covered with revolving lines, and a 

 hispid epidermis ; lower whorl tumid, ending in a long canal ; a 

 nodular keel crowns the flattened summit of each whorl, and there 

 is a deep and broad channel at the suture. 



Fig. 27 represents a string of egg cases. 



Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Georgia. 



2. S. TYRUM, Dillwyn. Fig. 28. 



(Bulla.) Desc. Cat., i. 485. 1817. 

 Pyrula spirata, Lamarck, Anim. s. Vert., vii. 143. 1823. 

 Fulgur pyruloides. Say, Journ. Philad. Acad., ii. 237. 

 Busycon plagosum, Conrad, Prov. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Philad. 583. 1863. 



Shell with spiral stria? alternately larger; whorls white, trans- 

 versely' lineated with ferruginous lines, interrupted or obsolete on 

 the middle ; above flattened, unarmed ; spire short, suture pro- 

 foundly canaliculate. 



Southern Coast, Oulf of Mexico. 



** Suture not canaliculate. 



3. S. CARIOUS, Graelin. Figs. 29, 30, 31 (reversed variety). 



(Murex.) Syst. Nat., 3545. 1788. 



