GENUS BUCCINUM, LINNAEUS. 



THE BUCCINUM. 



Generic character. Shell ovate or ovate-conical. Aper- 

 ture longitudinal, sometimes subrounded, deeply emarginated 

 at its base, and without canal. Columella simple, not flat- 

 tened, swollen above, and oftened covered with a wide and 

 flattened calcareous callosity, of more diaphanous substance. 

 There sometimes exists a fold at the base of the columella. 

 Right lip quite thin, oftentimes recurved, and forming a margin 

 on the exterior ; operculum horny, unguiform, of subconcen- 

 tric elements, and oftentimes marginal. 



Testa ovata vel ovato-conica ; apertura longitudinalis, aliquando subro- 

 tundata, fortiter basi emarginata; canali nullo; superne turgida; labrum 

 tenue, aliquand6 recurvatum et marginatum ; opercula cornea unguifor- 

 mis, elementis subconcentricis, et seepe marginalis. 



Animal oval, the foot almost always considerable, shielded 

 or two-lobed before, emarginated behind, bearing an opercu- 

 lum ; mantle simple, provided with a branchial siphon, pro- 

 jecting, thick, very long and dorsal, issuing from the emargi- 

 nation at the base of the shell. Head rather thick, furnished 

 with two conical, middling-sized tentaculae, supporting the 

 eyes upon the outer side, (sometimes the eyes do not exist, 

 but this case is extremely rare). Mouth provided with a 

 retractile trunk, armed with hooks. Sexes separate ; the ex- 

 citing organ of the male considerable, without an exterior 

 furrow at its base. 



Buccinum. A 



