238 DR Johnston's descriptive oatalogite of the 



Animal : tentacula two, triangular, compressed, non-retractile, lateral and su- , 

 perior, abruptly dilated at the base: eyes two, external, small, on the 

 dilated part of the tentacula: proboscis cylindrical, upwards of an inch.] 

 long, composed of circular fil)res, containing fibro-muscular sheath, within j 

 which lies the filiform rough tongue : margins of the collar and foot plain : 

 penis large, club-shaped, compressed, with a subterminal macro : opercu- 

 lum oval, corneous, concentrically striated. 



The nidus (Alcyonium, sen Vesicaria marina, Ellis, Corall. 84. tab. 32. b. B.), ' 

 is composed of numerous cartilaginous vesicles or pouches, united by a j 

 strong ligament into a roundish mass, which, in size and general appear- 

 ance, may be aptly compared to the nest of the humble bees. The pouches ! 

 are essentially the same in structure as those of Fusus antiquus, and each 

 contains about four young, which, when about to be hatched, have four 

 whorls, and exhibit all the characters of the shell in perfection. Some 

 authors have supposed that they constitute the Murex decollatus of Pennant 

 (Br. Zool. iv. 286. tab. 82. fig. 3.) ; but the latter ia really the fry of Fusus 

 antiquus. 



At the enthronization feast of William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury, on 

 the 9th of March 1504, there were provided 800O whelkes, at 5s per 1000. 

 They are not eaten on this coast, but are still exposed in large quantities 

 for sale in the markets of the metropolis. Our children amuse themselves 

 with the shell, which they apply to the ear, and, by attent'.vely listening to 

 its murmurings, they tell whether the tide flows or recedes ! 



" I have seen 

 A curious child, who dwelt upon a tract 

 Of inland ground, applying to his ear 

 The convolutions of a smooth-lipp'd shell ; 

 To which, in silence hush'd, his very soul 

 Listen' d intensely, and his countenance soon 

 Brighten' d with joy ; for murmurings from within 

 Were heard, — sonorous cadences, whei'eby, 

 To his belief, the monitor express' d 

 Mysterious union with its native sea." 



2. Buc. hreve, shell ovato-ventricose, whitish, faintly banded with 

 reddish-bi'own, ribbed transversely, and spirally striate ; whorls 

 five, rounded, the three apical sinooth, apex obtuse ; aperture 

 oval, the lip plain, the pillar twisted. Adams. 



Hah. In sand. Berwick Bay. 



There is a faint brown band on tlie upper and lower margins of the body- 

 whorl. The shell resembles the fry of Buc. undatum, but is different ; for 

 there are five distinct whorls in this, which is not more than a line in 

 length, whereas there are four only in Buc. undatum, when it is three or 

 four times of greater size. This shell is also more transparent, with the 

 ribs better marked, and the striro less so. 



4. Nassa. Lamarck. 



Shell ovate, with a produced spire ; aperture roundish or oval, with 

 a short canal; pillar rounded; outer lip thickened with a strong 

 external rib or varix : operculum liorny. 



1 , iV. mcrassata, shell ovate-conical, brown, with seven whorls ribbed 

 across and spirally grooved ; ribs obtuse ; aperture white, the 

 pillar concave, outer lip toothed within, canal very short, oblique, 

 with a black spot at the end, and a furrow between the body and 



