GENUS BUCCINUM. 73 



lowest whirl. Aperture pretty large, ovate, violet colored or 

 chestnut, dilated towards the middle ; right lip sharp, denticu- 

 lated within. Left lip thick, and partially covering the colu- 

 mella in its whole extent. Epidermis thin, of a greenish or 

 reddish brown, and beneath are perceived transverse zones, 

 and spots of a slate or violet gray color, with a decurrent 

 white band, articulated with brown or bay-colored spots upon 

 the suture. 



Length 9 lines. Width 4J- lines. 



Inhabits the Mediterranean, the coasts of Southern France, 

 of Sicily and of Corsica ; where it is found in great abundance 

 upon the rocks which bound the shore. 



This species has been described and figured by Payreaudeau 

 in his Catalogue de la Corse, p. 160, pi. 8, fig. 7, 8, 9, under the 

 name of BUCCINUM Cameilii; by Blainville, who united it to his 

 BUCCINUM corniculum in the Faune Franpaise, p. 183, pi. 6, B, 

 fig. 5, 5, A, and by Risso, who called it PLANAXIS olivacea. 

 The form of the shell varies little ; but not so the size and 

 color : some specimens remain invariably smaller, with more 

 apparent zones, and of a blackish brown color, the spots and the 

 edge of the right lip of a dull white : we give a figure of them, 

 pi. 17, fig. 62. Others present a variety of the same size, upon 

 which the bands are no longer apparent ; the shell is then covered 

 with reddish spots upon a rose white ground : these small points 

 often run together into undulating, longitudinal lines. 



A third variety is very remarkable for its deep black color; 

 we have represented it, pi. 17, fig. 63. Numerous pretty fine 

 transverse stria? cover its whole surface, and whitish spots sur- 

 round the base of the suture. Finally, there are others which 

 are of a straw color, and upon which the bands are scarcely to 

 be seen. 



It also sometimes happens, but very rarely, that the type spe- 

 cies has upon the lowest whirl, pretty numerous and strongly 

 prominent longitudinal folds. (Gualtieri, pi. 43, fig. P). 



