152 UROSALPINX. 



tooth, as in the Murices. Ova-capsules oblong, shouldered, 

 widest near the summit, compressed, earinated on either side 

 peduncle short ; base of attachment very small ; aperture meuuiu 

 at the summit. 



It differs from Trap/ion in its operculum, and from Ocinebra 

 in its smoother shell, want of distinct varices, and open canal. 



1 think the genus as defined above will include a natural group 

 of species such as I have ventured to refer to it. It is possible 

 that several species which I have preferred to place in Ocinebra, 

 such as M. liratus. A. Ad., and M. maculatm. Reeve, may really 

 belong here : for the present they cannot be definitely placed, the 

 operculum and animal being unknown. Kobelt has monographed 

 Urosalpinx as a subgenus of Trophon. 



The fossil genus /Sea/a.spim, Conrad, is certainly closely allied 

 to, if not identical with Urosalpinx ; if the latter, it has priority : 

 it would scarcely be advisable, however, to reject Stimpson's well- 

 characterized genus in favor of one having no diagnosis, and only 

 known by its type. 



Scalaspira strumosa , C onr. PI. 70, fig. 431. Miocene , Virginia . 



U. CINEREA, Say. PI. 39, figs. 493, 489, 487. 



Usually light brown or yellowish, rarely with several revolving, 

 indistinct, rufous bands. Within the aperture varying from 

 light flesh-color to dark salmon, chocolate or purple. 



Length, 1-35 inches. 



Maine to Florida. 



Animal small, foot scarcely covering the aperture, very little 

 dilated at the front angles, cream-colored, margined with lemon 

 color beneath, punctured with light drab above ; siphon merely 

 surpassing the tip of the canal ; head scarcely protruded ; ten- 

 tacula nearly united at origin ; eyes black, at the outer upper 

 third of tentacula, which third is a mere filament, contractile. 

 Motions sluggish. Littoral. 



The eggs of Urosalpinx cinerea are contained in small trans- 

 parent membranous parchment-like vases, each of which is at- 

 tached by an expanded foot to some solid substance, usually the 

 under surface of an overhanging rock, a little above low-tide 

 mark. Each female deposits from ten or twelve to more than a 

 hundred of these vases, the process of laying occupying several 



