Observations upon Voluta Lambert i. 91 



aflTfmer apres un tres-minutieux examen, que I'analogue 



identique du Voluta Lamberti se trouve aux environs d' An- 

 gers, dans les fallons de la Touraine, et aux environs de Bor- 

 deaux et de Dax, dans mon second etage tertiaire. 



" Les individus que vous m'avez envoyes de cette espece 

 sont plus beaux que ceux que je possedais dans ma collection. 

 11 est evident que ces coquilles etaient deja fossiles lorsqu'elles 

 ont ete reprises par la mer et roulees sur les cotes. Je vous 

 ferai observer que les couleurs qu'elles ont acquises, ne ressem- 

 blent point a celles decrites par Sowerby; et il faudrait avoir 

 bien peu l'habitude de comparer des coquilles vivantes et 

 fossiles pour croire que celles-ci sont vivantes parce qu'elles 

 ont ete trouvees dans la mer." * 



Sowerby's observations respecting this fossil have evidently 

 been quite misinterpreted by M. Deshayes, as will be seen on 

 perusing the passage referred to, which occurs at p. 65. of 

 vol. ii. tab. 129. " I retain this as a Volute, although the base 

 is, perhaps, scarcely emarginate, and is more taper than usual. 

 It is rather curious that about five specimens have been 

 found in a recent state much resembling this, which are in 

 the hands of different cognoscenti ; Mr. Hall is said to have 

 two, Mr. Jennings one, of which I have seen drawings, some 

 of which indicate an emarginate base ; the shape, in other re- 

 spects, is so near that it might be considered the same ; the 

 colour also corresponds ; the recent one is, however, finely 

 marked with zigzag or lightning-like stripes, of the colour 

 of the warmest or darkest line of our figure, and is altogether 

 to be admired, so that it has got the appellation of elegans. 

 It is said to be a native of the Fejee Islands in the South 

 Seas. I have seen a recent specimen approaching it with a 



* " You ask for information respecting Voluta Lamberti. You are fully 

 aware that Mr. Sowerby, in his Mineral Conchology, speaks of having seen 

 the living analogue of this fossil, taken in the South Seas. He describes 

 its colours, and it is upon this description that I have depended in placing 

 this species among living analogues. Several persons, upon whose testi- 

 mony I can rely, have told me that they have seen in London the living 

 analogue of Voluta Lamberti. This is all the information which I possess on 

 this subject, and it will teach }ou nothing that 3011 do not know better 

 than myself. 



" With regard to the fossils, I can assure you, after a very minute ex- 

 amination, that the identical analogue of Voluta Lamberti is found in the 

 neighbourhood of Angers, in the marl pits of Touraine, and in the envi- 

 rons of Bordeaux and of Dax, which belong to my second tertiary period. 

 The individuals which you have sent me are finer than any specimens in 

 my collection. It is evident that these shells were already fossil when taken 

 up by the sea, and cast upon the beach. You will observe that the colours 

 which they have acquired do not resemble those described by Sowerby ; 

 and one must be little in the habit of comparing living and fossil shells, to 

 believe that these are living because thev have been found in the sea." 



h 2 



