NASSID.E. 



345 



Pyrula Carica was wrongly given by Tnrton, in his 

 Conchological Dictionary/ as a Dublin-Bay shell; it 

 is a native of the North- American coasts. His relation 

 of the supposed discovery made my eyes when youthful 

 expand with prospective joy, not unmixed with wonder. 

 Now the latter feeling is almost extinct perhaps both 

 of them. 



Family XXIX. NAS'SIDJE, Stimpson. 



BODY spiral, usually short ; in other particulars agreeing 

 with the last two families. Sexes also separate. 



SHELL conic -oval or oblong, of small size, variously sculp- 

 tured : spire more or less turreted : canal short and abrupt : 

 pillar plicated : operculum horny, increasing by semielliptical 

 or curved layers ; nucleus blunt and terminal. 



This family has been founded lately, by Professor 

 Stimpson, on an odontological basis, "on account of the 

 arched form and very numerous denticles of the rhachi- 

 dian tooth of the lingual ribbon." Mr. Macdonald had 

 previously adduced another character of the same kind, 

 in distinguishing Nassa from Buccinum, viz. " the ab- 

 sence of smaller denticles between the two principal 

 fangs of the pleurae/' The shells of Nassida differ from 

 those of Buccinidce and Muricidce in having the pillar 

 plicated ; the nucleus of the operculum is placed as in 

 the last-named family. 



Genus I. NASSA*, Lamarck. PL VI. f. 4. 



BODY short : pallial tube narrow and extended : tentacles of 

 moderate length : eyes placed on stalks from one-third to half 

 the way up the tentacles : foot large, in front broad and with an- 

 gular corners ; tail cloven, and furnished with two tentacle- 

 like processes : [odontophore ; rhachis broad, arched, pecti- 

 nated ; uncinus having a tooth at the base. (Loven.)] 



* A wicker basket, with a narrow neck, for catching fish. 



Q5 



