SCALARIA. 207 



Scalaria clafhrus, Sowerbv (not Dekay), Genera Shells, Seal. f. 2. — Fleming, 

 Bi-lt. Animals, p. 311. — Reeve, Conch. Systemat.pl. 210, f. -2. 

 Encyclop. Method. Vers, pi. 451, f. 3. 



The name clathrus, although prior, cannot be retained, 

 since Linnceus, after having most inadequately defined a 

 species, so named in the tenth edition of his " Systcma," 

 bestowed the appellation, in his final edition of the same 

 work, upon a very different exotic Scalaria. 



To economize space we shall merely mention the chief 

 particulars in which this well known species differs from 

 the preceding. The shape is, for the most part, less 

 produced, and whorls, which are usually but ten in num- 

 ber, are more oblique, and so profoundly separated from 

 each other, as almost to appear disconnected. The cross- 

 bars, of which there are generally from eight to ten, 

 of uniform size on each volution, project beyond the 

 suture, and attach themselves to those of the previous 

 turn, so as to form several continuous series from the 

 apex to the base. They are rather large and prominent, 

 obliquely disposed, laminar, and not erect, but laterally 

 reflected ; their intervals are quite smooth. The colour- 

 ing is whitish or pale fawn, variegated in the intervals 

 of the costse with purplish liver-colour, and spotted, 

 band-fashion, upon the cross-bars, but these bands are 

 not continued in the intervening spaces. There exists 

 a small solid variety, on which the coloured markings are 

 almost entirely obsolete, and the cross-bars are peculiarly 

 thickened. In some of the Neapolitan examples, on the 

 contrary, the colouring matter is so profusely disseminated, 

 that the shell appears speckled with white on a ground 

 of rich chocolate colour. 



The dimensions are generally inferior to those of the 

 preceding species. 



