103 



divided by any deprelTed line, but each folded over the other, 

 leaving the edge abrupt, and not turned inwards : the body 

 volution confifts of three fourths of the fliell, thofe at 

 the top not only extremely fmall, but the four or five laft 

 decreafe fo fuddenly that they form a nipple on the fliell, 

 like the llile on the top of an acorn, and which it much re- 

 fembles ; tlie apex is more minute than in any fliell of its 

 fize we ever remember to have feen : the aperture is much 

 contradled ; tlie outer lip extends about half the length of 

 the fhell ; the pillar lip quite fmooth without any duplicature, 

 but at the bafe, or lower part of the aperture, the outer lip 

 makes a fhort revolution, enters the aperture, and forms a 

 jftrong plication or ridge on the columella, the fpiral turn of 

 which may be traced through the fliell, although confider- 

 ably thick and opaque ; the fudden flexure of the lip that 

 forms the fpiral ridge on the columella, forms alfo a fort of 

 canal or gutter. Length three eighths of an inch. 



The form and ftru6ture of this curious fliell is fomewhat 

 fimilar to Valuta tomatilis, and not the leafl: like Bulla 

 Joiitinalis, which, as we have reinarked under that fpecies, 

 has been miftaken for it. 



It appears Angular that this interefting little fliell fliould 

 fo long have remained dormant if really of Biilifh origin ; 

 and we now fubmit it on the authority of the Portland ca- 

 binet, where it was placed amongfl: the land and frefliwater 

 fliells, indiginous to this country. At the fale of that cabinet, 

 this fliell amongft a great many others, all Englijb, was 



bought 



