92 GENUS BUCCINUM. 



by an excavated notch at the top of the right lip, and by a fold 

 of the left lip. The depth of the cavity is brown or of a 

 violet-color, marked with transverse, whitish bands. Right 

 lip thin upon the edge, denticulated in a part of its length, 

 deeply striated internally ; columella arcuated, covered by the 

 left lip, which is enlarged upon the body of the shell, and 

 forms a semicircular callosity, often thick, polished, marked at 

 the lower part by transverse guttules, and terminated by an 

 oblique keel, which is prolonged to a point. The color of 

 this shell is generally ash, externally ; but sometimes it is 

 bluish, ornamented with one or several transverse, white or 

 brown bands ; another brown band extends always between 

 the tubercles of the lowest whirl. Operculum is oval and 

 rounded, membranous and denticulated upon one of its edges. 



Length 15 lines. Width 9 lines. 

 Inhabits the Indian Ocean and the Moluccas. 



This shell, which is very common, often varies in its form : 

 the whirls are more or less elongated, the longitudinal folds and 

 the transverse striae, sometimes completely disappear upon the 

 lowest whirl, nevertheless, tubercles remain which cover this 

 shell, and the furrows at the base, which are very well marked. 

 The coloring varies equally, some specimens are entirely white ; 

 others, of an uniform reddish or chestnut color. The young of 

 this species have folds and striae much more prominent ; in them 

 the lip is thin, smooth, and the callosity does not exist upon the 

 columella. 



I shall here quote an observation of Q,uoy and Gaimard, upon 

 the animals of the division of the NASS.E, to which this shell 

 belongs. " These animals," say these writers, " choose marine 

 plants, where they seem to search for the small animals which 

 are found there : they are very active, always in motion, easily 

 raising themselves by the aid of their foot, when they are in- 

 verted ; not seeking for deep water, but, nevertheless, rarely 

 creeping to the open air. 



