56 



former, and of fusus in the latter of these shells, are discoverable, but 

 blended with the generic characters of Valuta. V. bicorona, Lam. is 

 Strombus ambiguus, of Brarider; and V. crenulata, Lam. is Brander's 

 Murex suspensus. Lamarck describes seven more species, which are 

 found in the vicinity of Paris : V. lyra, V. harpula, V. labrella, V. bulimia, 

 V. depressa, V. variculosa, and V. mitreola. 



The most rare shell of this genus, found in this island, is, I believe, 

 the fossil volute of Harwich, Plate V. Fig. 13, which I have chosen as 

 a specimen of this genus. No corresponding recent shell appears to 

 be figured. Langius gives the figure of a cast, Hist. Lapid. Fig. p. 1 12, 

 Tab. xxxin. Fig. 3, which certainly bears a very close resemblance to 

 this fossil. A very faithful representation of a very imperfect specimen 

 of this shell is given in the Appendix to Dale's History of Harwich, 

 PL x. Fig. 14, p. 289, excepting that the plicse are too large. 



The ovate fusiform figure of this shell gives it an appearance some- 

 what resembling some recent shells, but by no means sufficient to 

 warrant the supposition of an identity of species. A shell apparently 

 of this species, invested with pyrites, has been found in Mr. Trimmer's 

 grounds, at Brentford. 



A very fine fossil shell, bearing much of the form of this volute, is 

 found in some parts of Yorkshire, I believe in the neighbourhood of 

 Whitby. This shell is so perfect, and its colours are so well preserved, 

 that a specimen of it, having fallen some years since into the hands of 

 Mr. George Humphries, he was deceived into the opinion of its being a 

 dead shell ; and being satisfied that it was of a species which was en- 

 tirely unknown, he cleaned it and polished it as a recent shell : and was 

 not undeceived, until at a subsequent period he saw another specimen, 

 by which he was enabled to ascertain its being really a fossil. 



XV. Mitra. A subfusiform univalve, with a pointed apex, a notched 

 base, and no canal : the columella plicated ; the inferior plicae being the 

 smallest. 



The lower plicae being smaller than the others, and the apex pointed, 



