ROSTELLARIA. 127 



Genus ROSTELLARIA, Lamarck, 1799. 



" Rostellaria has all the habits of the Strombidoe, progressing 

 by means of its powerful and elastic foot which it places under 

 the shell in a bent position, when suddenly, by a muscular effort, 

 it straightens that organ, and rolls and leaps over and over. It 

 is, however, far more timid and suspicious than Strombus, which 

 has a bold disposition. On the low sandy beach, near the mouth 

 of the Lundu River, in Borneo, dead shells of Rostellaria recli- 

 rostris are numerous, but generally in very imperfect condition. 

 At the small fishing village of Samahitan I inspected a large 

 heap of these shells, which the Malays had brought together for 

 the purpose of turning them into lime. On inquiring of these 

 poor fishermen whether it were possible to obtain them in a living 

 state, we were informed that they never procured them in their 

 nets, but that they lived in deep water at a considerable distance 

 from the shore. The animal of Roxtellaria fissa does not differ 

 from that of Strombus, and is of a dull brown color, varied with 

 lighter brown. It is, however, one of the most lively among 

 mollusks, jumping several inches, and throwing itself about with 

 the most astonishing activity. It has none of the extreme 

 timidity of the former mentioned species." Arthur Adams, 

 Narrat. Vo}'. Samarang, ii, 492. 



R. CURVIROSTRIS, Lam. PI. 10, figs. 14-16 ; PL 11, fig. 26. 



Upper portion of the spire longitudinally plicate, the rest of 

 the shell smooth ; lower part of lip-margin, six- or seven-dentate ; 

 yellowish brown, aperture white. Length, 6-8 inches. 



Red /Sea, Moluccas. 



R. magna, Schroter, has considerable priority of publication, 

 but I decline to depose a very well-known name in its favor. It 

 is R. dentula, Perry, R. breviro&tra, Schum., and R.fusus, Gmelin, 

 not Linn. 



Var. CURTA, Sowb. Fig. 15. 



The canal straight. 

 Var. LUTEOSTOMA, Angas. Fig. 16. 



Aperture golden yellow, lip-margin with five digitations, canal 

 curved. 



