Mi-'KICES.] 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



239 



conlinuance as to induce him to mention it parti- 

 cularly. The animal, through deeply contracted 

 within the shell, was apparently healthy, and beau- 

 tifully coloured. It emitted a considerable quantity 

 ofbright green fluid, which stained paperof a grass- 

 green colour: it also coloured two or three ounces 

 of pure water. This green solution, after standing 

 twelve hours in a stoppered bottle, became purplish 

 at the pper part ; but the paper retained its green 

 colour though exposed to the atmosphere. A spe- 

 cimen of C. telescopium, sent from Calcutta to Mr. 

 G. B. Sowerby in sea-water, lived out of water in a 

 small tin box for more than a week. Cerithium has 

 been found in the sea on various bottoms, and in 

 estuaries, at a depth ranging from the surface to 

 seventeen fathomc 



The communication to which Mr. Gray refers, in 

 the 'Zool. Proceeds.' PL I., 1838, p. 1 16, is as fol- 

 lows : — 



" It is well known that the animals of terrestrial 

 shells are torpid during the winter in cold and em- 

 perate climates, and during the dry season or sum- 

 mer in tropical regions ; but it had not been pre- 

 viously remarked that a similar slate occurs in those 

 of marine shells. Mr. Gray found that many indi- 

 viduals of Littorina petraea, and some of Lift, rudis, 

 were in this condition during his stay at Dawlish. 

 They were attached to the rocks several feet above 

 the reach of the highest autumnal tides ; their foot 

 was entirely retracted, and a membranous film was 

 spread between the rock and the edge of the outer 

 lip of the shell. The gills were only moist, the 

 branchial sac being destitute of that considerable 

 quantity of water which exists in it in those of the 

 same species which are adherent to the rock by 

 their expanded foot. In this torpid condition the 

 individuals observed by Mr. Gray continued during 

 the whole of his stay, which lasted for more than a 

 week. On removing several of them and placing 

 them in sea-water, they recovered in a few minutes 

 their full activity." 



We now pass to a genns, Trichotropis, Brod. and 

 Sowerby, the situation of which is not very clear ; 

 though in most particulars the mcliusk agrees with 

 Bnccinum. 



The shell has something the shape of Turbo ; but 

 IS distinguished from that genus by its thinness, and 

 from Buccinum by the want of a notch at the base 

 of the aperture, and by the very indistinct canal. 

 Again, from Turbo, as Mr. Broderip observes, it may 

 be easily known by its elliptical and not spiral 

 operculum, and by the absence of lateral ciliated 

 membranes. It appears to be a link between Buc- 

 cinum and Cancellaria, differing from the latter in 

 being destitute of the oblique folds at the base of 

 the columella. 



The shell, which from its soft spines is very cu- 

 rious, may be described as turbinated and carinated 

 externally. The aperture is wide ; the whole shell 

 thin and delicate. It is covered with a horny epi- 

 dermis, forming rows of numerous sharp-pointed 

 processes along the edges of the carinae on the outer 

 surface of the shell. 



The operculum is homy, smaller than the aperture 

 of the shell, and composed of elliptical laminae. 



In many particulars the mollusk resembles the 

 Buccinum, ditfering principally in having a veiy 

 tmall fold of the mantle. 



The species known amount only to two, or per- 

 haps three. 



2794. — The Bi-carinated Trichotropis 



{Trichotropis bicnrinata). This delicate white trans- 

 lucent shell has a double keel, each beset with soft 

 spines ; the epidermis is horn-colour. The letter a 

 distinguishes the operculum detached. 



This species is a native of the arctic seas, and has 

 been brought from Newfoundland, and the Bay be- 

 tween Icy Cape and Cape Lisbon, dredged up in ten 

 or fifteen fathoms of water. An allied species, 

 Trichotropis borealis, is also found in the Northern 

 Ocean near Melville Island, whence specimens were 

 brought to England by Sir W. E. Parry. A single 

 specimen was found at Oban in Argyleshire by the 

 Rev. T. I.owe ; and Captain Belcher procured one 

 at Icy Cape. 



Whether the Fusus 4-costatus of Say, a fossil 

 shell of considerable size, belongs to this genus or 

 not, is a point which Messrs. Broderip and Sowerby 

 leave undecided. It differs materially from the two 

 recent species in having an enormous umbilicus. 



Family MURICID^ (MURICES, SPINDLE- 

 SHELLS, &c.). 



The Siphonostomata of M. de Blainville, which he 

 regards as closely allied to the preceding family. 

 In this family, says Cuvier, are comprehended those 

 shells which have a straight projecting canal ; the 

 mollusks have all a proboscis ; tentacles close to- 

 gether, elongated, with the eyes on the outer side. 

 The operculum is horny; the head is destitute of a 

 veil; they are all of carnivorous habits. The genera 

 are numerous, and the species collectively almost 



endless. Of lleurotoma thirty-six neiv species are 

 characterized by Mr. Sowerby in the ' Zool. Proc' 

 1833, from the western coast of South America and 

 the islands of the South Pacific. Of Triton Messrs. 

 Broderip and Sowerby describe sixteen new species. 

 Of Murex twenty-three species are described by Mr. 

 Broderip (' Zool. Proc' 1832), to say nothing of 

 other genera. We can attempt only a sketch of the 

 leading forms. 



In the genus Pleurotoma the shell is fusiform, 

 slightly rugose, with a turiiculated spire: the aper- 

 ture is small and oval, terminated by a straight 

 canal more or less long. The right lip is trenchant, 

 and more or less incised. 



2795. — The Tckbkt:.) Pleurotoma. 



{Pleurotoma Babylonicd). This species is a native 

 of the "^ndian seas and the Moluccas. The shell is 

 fusiform and turreted, transversely carinated or 

 ridged, and belted ; the whorls are convex ; the 

 canal ratlier long, and the right lip incised a little 

 beyond the middle. The colour is white with black 

 spotted belts ; the spots quadrate. 



2796. — The Eared Pjlkurotoma 



{Pletirotoma awiculifera). This species is an ex- 

 ample of that subgeneric group in which the canal 

 is short, and the incision of the right lip adjacent to 

 the spire. Such shells constitute the genus Clava- 

 tula of Lamarck. 



The shells of Pleurotoma occur at depths varying 

 from six to sixteen fathoms. 



The fossil species are very numerous. Deshayes 

 enumerates one hundred and fifty in the tertiary 

 deposits. In Europe they occur chiefly in the 

 calcaire grossier, the London clay, the clay near 

 Bordeaux, and the Subapennine beds. 



Passing on to the genus Fusus (Spindle-shells), it 

 may be observed that the shell is fusiform, often 

 ventricose in the middle, rugose, and thick ; the 

 spire is very produced ; the canal is straight and 

 elongated ; the aperture oval ; the right lip tren- 

 chant; the columellar lip smooth ; operculum horny. 



Fig. 2797 represents the animal of Fusus creeping 

 on its disc ; a, the operculum. 



2798. —The Distaff Fusus 



(Fttsus coins). This species is a native of the In- 

 dian Ocean. The shell is fusiform, narrow, and 

 transversely furrowed ; the whorls are convex, and 

 carinated in a nodular manner in the middle. The 

 right lip is sulcated within, and denticulate on the 

 margin. The colour is white, passing into rufous 

 at the apex and base. 



The genus Fusus is subdivided into several sec- 

 tions; the fossil species are enumerated in M. Des- 

 hayes's Tables at 111, belonging to tertiary deposits; 

 but to this mimber others have been added, among 

 which we may notice sixteen described by Mr. Lea, 

 from the tertiary beds at Claiborne, Alabama, and 

 one from Maryland. 



We now pass to the genus Pyrula. In this genus 

 the shell is pear-shaped in consequence of the re- 

 traction of the spire ; the aperture is oval and rather 

 large ; the canal conical, and variable in length ; the 

 right lip trenchant ; the columella smooth and bent ; 

 operculum horny. 



2799.— The Bat-like Pyrola 



{Pyrula Carnaria). Pyrula Vespertilio, Lam. ; Mu- 

 rex Vespertilio, Gmel. ; Fusus Carnarius, Mart. 



The Indian Ocean affords this pyrula, which is 

 distinguished by the thickness of its shell, which is 

 large and ponderous. The spire is moderately 

 prominent ; the ridge of the last whorl is crowned 

 with compressed tubercles; the general colour is 

 rufous bay. 



2800.— The Fig-like Pvrula 



{Pyrula ficus). This species is an example of a 

 group included in the genus Pyrula, distinguished 

 by ventricose form of shell; the structure, moreover, 

 it rather delicate. In the present pyrula the shell 

 is fig-shaped, with a short spire, and a patulous 

 aperture, prolonged into a wide canal, the columellar 

 lip of which is somewhat flexuous ; the last whorl 

 is ample, and transversely striated. The general 

 colour is bluish grey, with bay or violet spots. The 

 mouth is generally of bluish or pale violet hue. 

 This species is found in the Indian seas ; specimens 

 have been obtained at the Moluccas. M. Deshayes 

 in his Tables enumerates thirty-one living species of 

 Pyrula, and twenty-one fossil forms in the tertiary 

 deposits, of which about four are identical with ex- 

 isting species. Mr. Mantell records two species 

 from the blue clay of Bracklesham in Sussex, and 

 one from the arenaceous limestone of Bagnor. Dr. 

 Fitton notices three from the strata below the chalk 

 in Kent, and Mr. Lea enumerates three from the 

 tertiary beds at Claiborne, Alabama. 



From the genus Pyrula we advanceto that termed 

 Fasciolaria, distinguished by some oblique folds on 

 the columella. The shell is of a fusiform shape, 



convex in the middle, with an oval aperture passing 

 into a long and rather wide anterior canal. The 

 right lip is trenchant, and often wrinkled internally. 

 The operculum is horny. Fig. 2801 represents the 

 animal of Fasciolaria: a, the operculum at the ex- 

 tremity of a short thick foot ; the eyes are at the 

 base of the tenlacula ; the respiratory tube is long. 



2802.— The Tulip Fasciolaria 

 {Fasciolaria tulipa). T'oe shell is fusiform, ventri- 

 cose in the middle, and smooth. It varies in colour, 

 being sometimes of an orange rufous tint, sometimes 

 marbled with white and bay, girt with transverse 

 brown lines, unequally arranged ; the outer lip is 

 white, striated within. It is a native of the West 

 Indian seas. 



The Fasciolaria; are generally found on muddy 

 bottoms, at depths ranging from the surface tosevea 

 fathoms. 



The species of the genus Fasciolaria are less nu- 

 merous than those of many othfers. M. Lamarck 

 records eight living species, and M. Deshayes only 

 seven. In the ' Proceeds. Zool. Soc.,' 1832, p. 32, 

 Mr. Broderip describes a new species, belonging to 

 the collection of Mr. Cuming, from Panama, viz. 

 Fasc. granosa. With respect to fossil species, M. 

 de Blainville states the number known as seven, but 

 M. Deshayes enumerates only five belonging to ter- 

 tiary deposits. Professor Sedgwick and Mr. Murchi- 

 son record one fossil species (Fasciolaria elongata) 

 as occurring in the Gosau deposit, and its equiva- 

 lents in the eastern Alps. Mr. Lea notices two, 

 Fasc. picta and Fasc. elevata, in the tertiary beds 

 at Claiborne, Alabama. 



We now advance to the genus Turbinella. The 

 shell is in most species turbinated, but also some- 

 times turriculated, rugose, and thick ; the spire is 

 variable in form ; the aperture is elongated, merg- 

 ing into a straight and sometimes short canal ; the 

 right lip is entire and sharp-edged ; the columellar 

 lip is covered by a broad callosity with two or three 

 unequal and nearly transverse plaits or ridges. 



This genus is divided into the following sections: 



Section 1. Species fusilbrm and nearly smoot.'i — 

 Example : Turbinella Rapa. 



Section 2. Species tuibinaceousand spiny — Ex- 

 ample : Turbinella Scolymus. 



Section 3. Species turriculated and subfusiform 

 — Example: Turbinella Jnfundibulum. 



2803.— The Turnip Tubbixella 



{Turbinella Rapa). This species is an example of 

 the first section, the shell being smooth, fusiform, 

 and ventricose in the middle ; it is thick and pon- 

 derous ; the edge of the whorls is tumid, advancing 

 over the line of demarkation. This species is a na- 

 tive of the Indian seas ; it is found on bottoms of 

 sandy mud at depths varying from the surface to 

 eighteen fathoms. 



The Turbinellse are all natives of the warmer 

 latitudes. Their number is moderate. M.Lamarck 

 enumerates twenty-three living species ; to these 

 must be added three more described by Mr. Bro- 

 derip from specimens in the collection of Mr. 

 Cuming, and procured at the Gallapagos Islands, 

 Elizabeth Island, and the Caraccas. M. Deshayes 

 makesthe number of existing Turbinellae thirty-two, 

 and that of fossil species three, recently discovered 

 in the tertiary deposits. 



The next genus to be noticed is termed Colum- 

 bella. The shell is thick, turbinated, with a short 

 spire ; the aperture is narrow and elongated, merg- 

 ing into a wider but short canal ; the right lip has 

 the margin thickened, and the reflex part often 

 serrated internally ; the columellar lip has a notched 

 and thickened edge along the anterior canal. Of 

 the mollusk itself little is known, nor is it quite 

 clear that the genus is in its most appropriate sta- 

 tion. One species, the Columbella avaia of Say, 

 has not, according to M. de Blainville, the right lip 

 thickened. 



2804. — The Mercatorial Columbella 



{Columbella mercatoria). In this species the outer 

 lip is distinctly serrated or toothed, the external 

 suil'ace is transversely sulcated. It is of a white 

 colour, with small rufous-brown transverse lines, 

 and is sometimes banded with the same tint. It is 

 a native of the Atlantic, and, like the Columbellae, 

 is generally found on bottoms of sandy mud vary- 

 ing in depth from the surface to sixteen fathoms. 



The species of this genus are very numerous, all 

 tenanting the seas of the warmer latitudes. M. La- 

 marck describes «;ighteeu species. ]\I. Deshayes 

 enumerates thirty-three living species, and three 

 fossil ; and Mr. G. B. Soweiby, in the • Proceeds. 

 Zool. Soc' 1832, p. 113 et seq., describes thirty- 

 nine new species, all collected by Mr. Cuming on the 

 western coast of South America and among the 

 islands of the South Pacific Ocean. Of these one, 

 the Columbella procera, is remarkable for its gigan- 

 tic size. Though not precisely according with the 

 characters of Columbella as given by Lamarck, yet. 



