28 MOLLUSCA. TRACHELIPODA. 



** Spire not projecting. 



M. interrupta. Shell subovate, whitish,, with transverse interrupted 

 reddish lines, i inch long. Lam. vii. 362. 



Gen. 9. VOLUTA, Lin. Lam. 



Shell oval, more or less ventricose, emarginate at the base ; the 

 apex mammiform; no canal; columella plicate, the lower folds 

 larger and more oblique ; no columellar lamina. 



This genus, although a dismemberment of the Linnaean genus Voluta, is still nu- 

 merous in species, many of which are extremely beautiful, and highly prized by col- 

 lectors. They are all marine, and live in general in the seas of warm climates. 



* Shell ventricose Cymbiolse. 



V. nautica,Ijam. Shell inflated, reddish; the spire very short, crowned 

 with short spines inflected toward the axis ; columella with three 

 folds. 8 inches long. Inhabits the seas of Asia. Lam. vii. 329. 

 A large and beautiful shell, remarkable for the direction of its coronal spines, which 



are bent horizontally toward the spire. 



V. armata, Lam. Shell ventricose, attenuated above, orange-yellow, 

 anteriorly marbled with white ; the spire crowned with very long 

 straight spines ; columella with three folds. 8 inches long. In- 

 habits the seas of southern Africa. Seba, Mus. iii. pi. 65, fig. 1, 2. 



V. meloj Lam. Shell extremely inflated, narrowed above, yellowish, 

 with three or four series of widely set brown spots ; spire with- 

 out spines, almost concealed ; columella with four folds. 8 in- 

 ches long. Inhabits Indian seas Favanne, pi. 28, fig. F. 



** Shell oval, spinous or tubercular. Muricinse. 



V. imperialis, Lam. Shell turbinate, flesh-coloured, undulated with 



reddish brown spots and angular lines ; spire crowned with long 



erect subincurvated spines; columella with four folds. 7 inches 



long. Inhabits seas of India. Martini, iii. pi. 97, fig. 394, 395. 



V.pellis-serpenlis, Lin. Shell ovato-oblong, pale flesh-colour, marked 

 with red lines and spots ; the last turn obtusely angled above, and 

 the angle furnished with protuberances which are plicate poste- 

 riorly ; spire conical, muricated with short acute tubercles ; co- 

 lumella with four folds. 5 inches long. Inhabits Indian seas. 

 Rumph. Mus. pi. 32, fig. 1. 



*** Shell oval, subtubercular. Musicales. 



V. musica, Lin. Shell ovate, turbinate, the last turn angulate, 

 with a series of pliciform tubercles at the angle ; five transverse 

 bands, of which three consist of red lines, the other two of irre- 

 gular blackish dots and spots ; spire tuberculate ; columella with 

 the 5 or 6 lower plicae larger, the rest small. 3 inches long. In- 

 habits the seas of south America, and the west Indies. Bonan. 

 3, fig. 296, 297- 

 This species obtains its specific name from the resemblance of its transverse lines 



and black spots to the notes of music. 



V. polyzonalis, Lam. Shell ovate, greenish gray ; dotted with red- 

 dish brown, and marked with several transverse white bands, 

 and brown spots ; the last turn angulate above, crowned with 



