PROS. 215 



Sub-Family PHOTINJE. 



(Jenus PHOS, Montfurt. 



The animal of Phot* has a small head, with the tentacles ap- 

 proximating or connate at their base, and eyes near their tips ; 

 foot dilated, forming an anriculate, shield-like lobe in front, and 

 terminating behind in a long, tapering filament. 



The species of /Vios bear some resemblance to Nassa, and 

 were originally placed in the family Xassidse ; from which, how- 

 ever, they are distinguished by certain good conchological and 

 malacological characters. The turreted form, cancellated sur- 

 face and grooved interior of aperture are common to Nassa also, 

 but the oblique basal fold of the columella is characteristic of 

 this genus. The animal differs from Buccinum in the foot, 

 ending in a filament behind : Naxsa has a bifid posterior termina- 

 tion. The genus is widely diffused, the species however, as far 

 as known, being rather local in distribution. Phos has been 

 monographed by Sowerby in Thesaurus Conchyliortim, Vol. III. 

 An inspection of his plates suggests the probable identity of 

 many of the species there figured as distinct. No allowance is 

 made by most describers for individual variation in form, sculp- 

 ture and coloring ; yet. where a number of specimens of a species 

 from a single locality are compared, there will usually be found 

 to exist much difference in the number and prominence of ribs 

 and stria?, coloring, etc. Even the angulated (or shouldered) 

 body whorl appears to be a variable character; some specimens 

 of a single lot of P. Guadaloupensia being broadly shouldered 

 as described ; others entirely without shoulder or angulation. I 

 am conA^inced that Morch's subgenus Stronyylocera, comprising 

 the species with angulated whorls has no title to distinction, and 

 I have suppressed it accordingly. I have allowed some species 

 to stand provisionally which, judging from the ascertained range 

 of variation in other forms, will probably eventually be con- 

 sidered synonyms. 



*% ; . Oriental Species. 

 PH. SENTICOSUS, Linn. PL 83, figs. 479-490, 492, 493, 506, 575. 



White to chocolate brown, with or without yellowish or red- 

 dish brown bands. Length, 1-2 inches. 



Philippines; New Caledonia; Amboina; Andaman Isles. 



