FAMILY PURPURIDiE FUSUS. 145 



FuSUS CINEREUS. 



PLATE VIII. FIG. 184. A. B. 



("STATE COLLECTION.) 



Fusus cmncus. Say, Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 2, p. 236. 



F. id. Id. American Conchology, pi. 29, 



F. id. Adams, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. Vol. 2, p. 272. 



Buccinum pticosum. Gould, Invcrlcbrala of Mass. p. 303, fig. 213. 



Description. Shell coarse, subfusiform, moderately solid. Whorls five or six, moderately 

 convex, with ten to twelve revolving raised lines, rendered undulating by numerous coarse 

 rounded vertical ribs : on the body-whorl there are twelve of these revolving lines, and ten 

 -ribs ; on the spire, the revolving lines decrease and disappear, leaving only the coarse verti- 

 cal ribs. Aperture semiovate, and, with the canal, exceeding the length of the spire : lip 

 sharp, and festooned by the termination of the revolving lines ; columella smooth, polished, 

 slightly arched ; canal short, recurved. Opercle horny, with concentric elements. 



Color. Epidermis greyish brown ; aperture dark purple. Animal yellowish, j)unctured 

 with brownish yellow above. 



Length, I'O; of aperture and canal, 0"5. 



This is a common shell on our coast, and is known under the name of Drill by our oyster- 

 men. They are said to be very destructive to oysters, by piercing or drilling small holes 

 through the shell, and destroying the animal. The means by which this is effected, has not 

 been explained. I have observed them attached to oysters ; and upon removing them, a white 

 circular space may be seen at the spot to which they had been attached ; and in the centre 

 of this space, a small perforation, not exceeding a pin-hole in size, extending a greater or less 

 distance into the substance of the shell. It appears to extend from the shores of Massachu- 

 setts to the coast of the Southern States. 



FuSUS DECEMCOSTATUS. 



PLATE IX. FIG. 186. 



Fusus carmatus ? Lamarck, An. sans vert. Vol. 7, p. 126. 



F. decemcostatus. Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 5, p. 214. 



F- id, RussEL, Essex Journ. Nat. History, Vol. 1, p. 70. 



F. id. Gould, Invertebrata of Mass. p. 287, fig. 202 



Description. Shell large, robust, solid, somewhat ventricose, oval. Whorls six or seven 

 obliquely flattened above the shoulder, and with stout coarse revolving ribs : there are about 

 ten of these ribs on the body-whorl, gradually diminishing beneath. On the upper whorls, 

 the ribs are reduced to two or three large and coarse ones, which give a turreted appearance 

 to the spire : between these ribs are smaller revolving lines, and the whole surface is coarsely 



Fauna — Part 6. 19 



