OVCTLA. MOLLUSCA. 27 



gins tumid and tubercular. 1 inch long. Inhabits the Indian 

 and African seas Lister, pi. 709, fig. 69. 



This is one of the shells used as money in Africa and India, and vast quantities 

 are collected for this purpose. 



C. Europea, Mont. (C. coccinella,Lam.) Shell ovate, ventricose, red- 

 dish or purplish, with transverse smooth striae ; no dorsal line, 

 i inch long. Seas of Europe. Penn. Brit. Zool. iv. pi. 73. 



C. pediculiis, Lin. Shell ovate, ventricose, reddish, with three brown 

 spots above ; transverse striae granular, a deep longitudinal line. 

 \ inch long. Seas of the West Indies. Lister, pi. 706, fig. 56. 



Gen, 6. OVULA, Lam. Bulla, Lin. 



Shell turgid, attenuated at either end ; the margins convolute ; 

 aperture longitudinal, narrow, effuse at the extremities ; the 

 left margin toothless. 



O. oviformis, Lam. (Bulla ovum, Lin.) Shell ovate, inflated, ven- 

 tricose in the middle, smooth, pure white ; the extremities promi- 

 nent, subtruncate ; the mouth deep orange. 4 inches long. In- 

 habits the Indian seas. Lister, pi. 711* fig. 65. 



Fossil species are found on the continent at Fiorenzola in the Plaisantin. 



FAMILY II. COLUMELLARIA, Lam. Valuta, Lin. 



No canal at the base of the aperture, but a subdorsal notch, 

 more or less distinct, and folds upon the columella. 



The Columellaria form a very natural family, most of which were included in the 

 genus Voluta of Linnaeus. They are in general distinguished by the beauty of their 

 shells. This family contains five genera : Volvaria, Marginella, Valuta, Mitra, and 

 Colombclla. 



Gen. 7. VOLVARIA, Lam. Voluta, Lin. 

 Shell cylindrical, convolute, with the spire scarcely protruding; 

 aperture narrow, nearly as long as the shell ; one or more 

 folds on the lower part of the columella. 



This genus forms the transition from the Involuta to the Columellaria. The spe- 

 cies are all marine, and in general of small size. 



V. monilis, Lam. Shell ovato-subcylindrical, opaque, glossy pure 

 white ; spire scarcely perceptible ; columella with about five folds. 

 \ inch long. Inhabits Indian and African seas. Lam. vii. 363. 



Gen. 8. MARGINELLA, Lam. Voluta, Lin. 

 Shell ovate or oblong, smooth, with the spire short, and the right 

 margin furnished with a longitudinal varix externally ; base 

 of the aperture scarcely notched ; columella plicate ; the folds 

 nearly equal. 



* Spire prominent. 



M. ccerulescens, Lam. Shell ovato-oblong, bluish white ; spire short, 

 acute ; lip brown within, and smooth ; columella with four folds. 

 1 inch long. Inhabits the Indian Ocean. Lister, pi. 817, fig' 28. 



M. longivaricosa, Lam. Shell ovato-oblong, pale brown, with mi- 

 nute irregular white spots ; the varix reaching to the extremity 

 of the spire. 9 lines long. Seas of Senegal Lam. vii. 358. 



