GENUS HARPA. 



V 3. HARPA NOBIL.IS, LAM. The Noble Harp. 



, /J I , ft* h t 

 (Collect. MASS. LAM.) LIST., Conch., pi. 992, fig. 55. 



PI. Ill, fig. 5. 



H. testi ovata, subventricosa, griseo-albo et fusco varia, maculis amplis 

 purpureo-sanguineis picta ; costis latiusculis ; lineis nigris capillaribus 

 trans versim fasciculatis ; spira submuricata. 



Shell ovate, a little ventricose; spire slightly elongated, 

 submuricated, the whirls flattened above, surmounted by ribs 

 which are continued ; these are from 12 to 14 in number, be- 

 coming broader as they approach the lip ; they are ornament- 

 ed with transverse black lines, dividing them into unequal 

 spaces, the coloring of which is less deep than that of the in- 

 terstices of the ribs ; these last are of a grayish or brown tint, 

 of little variety, with wide spots, which sometimes form bands 

 of a bloody purple. Undulating lines in zigzags or white fes- 

 toons, and brown meanderings between them. The upper 

 band of the last whirl oftentimes becomes more apparent from 

 the brightened or even whitish shade of its color ; aperture 

 ovate, of an orange white ; right lip marked by brown spots 

 internally, and bordered externally by the last rib which is 

 denticulated in a portion of its length. The columella slightly- 

 arched at the base, almost covered in its length by three very 

 distant violet or brown spots. 



Length 3 inches. Width 22 lines. 

 Inhabits the Indian Ocean. <?< : - 



This species is pretty constant in its characters ; nevertheless, 

 it happens that some specimens have a paler coloring, and the 

 festoons are perceptible only by intervals, and have then the 

 appearance of pretty irregular bands. The specimen represent- 

 ed, pi. 6, fig. 11, is of a brownish red. Others are of a clear 

 red. 



Harpa. B 



