FUSUS. 
Prate I. 
Genus Fusus, Lamarck. 
Testa ovato- vel elongato-fusiformis, nunquam varicosa, basi 
canaliculata, canali nunc longissimo, nunc brevissimo ; 
columella levi; aperture labro plerumque denticulato. 
Operculum corneum. 
Shell ovately or elongately fusiform, never varicose, canali- 
culated at the base, canal sometimes very long, some- 
times very short ; columella smooth ; lip of the aper- 
ture generally denticulated. Operculum horny. 
The genus Fusus is considered one of somewhat doubtful 
importance owing to the slight variation in the character 
of the animal, but it is nevertheless of particular value in 
the distribution of the great canaliferous series in respect 
of the shell. M. Deshayes does not, however, participate 
in this opinion. “Take away the columellar plaits from 
the greater portion of the Turbinelli,” says the learned 
editor of the ‘Animaux sans vertébres’ “and you make 
Fusi of them; deprive the Zritons of their varices and they 
become Fusi”. Lamarck, it is true, mainly characterized 
the genera of this extensive family by the disposition of 
the varices and columellar plaits, but each is distinguished 
by an association of peculiarities apart from these. 
The Tritons are peculiar in their form, sculpture and 
colouring irrespective of the varices; the Fasciolarie in 
their size, development and style of painting without 
reference to the columellar plaits, and so also the Tur- 
binelli in their solid tubercular growth. The Fusi under 
consideration are not less remarkable on account of the 
beautifully elongated spindle growth, which constitutes 
the typical character of the genus ; and there is no form 
in Triton or Turbinellus which can be said to be generically 
the same. The character of Fusus appears to be ill- 
understood by authors; Philippi, for example, in his * Ab- 
bildungen’ refers the Triton Chemunitzti (truly a Triton if 
we look only so far as the epidermis) to this genus, and 
several other species belonging most unequivocally to Buc- 
cinum and Turbinellus. 
If any subdivision of the genus Fusus be admitted, it 
may be made in favour of that division including the 
F. antiquus, despectus, &e. ; these have been already con- 
nected by Muller, under the title of Tritoniwm, with the 
Buccinum undatum, but their affinity with that species 
appears to be one equally remote with the former. The 
F. Nifat, buccinatus and aculeiformis have also a character 
peculiar to them, and might with the same propriety be 
united under a distinct sub-generic head. 
Having spoken of the typical forms of Fusus, it remains 
to notice that there are several species referred to this 
genus which touch closely upon Pyruda and Murex ; these, 
as with all species on the confines of systematic, groups, 
may be referred to either genus. 
The spindle-shaped Fusi are principally from the Eastern 
World, and are either white or variegated with an uniform 
brown; in none of them is there any display of colour like 
that of Fusciolaria or Turbinellus. The ovate species are 
from a colder region aud mostly European, if not British. 
Species 1. (Fig. a and 4, Mus. Cuming.) 
Fusus Marmoratvus. Sus. testé fusiformi, via abbreviata, 
spird subturrité, anfractibus undique fortiter liratis et 
striatis, superné peculiariter declivibus, medio angulato- 
tumidis, subcarinatis et plicato-nodosis ; 
Jauce creberrimeé acute liratd ; alba, rufo-fusco profuse 
picld et variegata. 
THE MARBLED Fusus. Shell fusiform, slightly abbre- 
viated, spire somewhat turreted, whorls strongly 
ridged and striated throughout, peculiarly slanting 
round the upper part, angularly swollen in the middle, 
slightly keeled and plicately nodose ; interior of the 
aperture very closely sharply ridged ; white, profusely 
painted and variegated with red-brown. 
Puruiprr, Abbild. and Besch. Conch. Fusus, Pl. 3. f. 7. 
Hab. Australia; Jukes. 
The whorls of this species are peculiarly angularly tumid 
in the middle, and the shell is very profusely stained 
throughout with dark red-brown. 
aperture 
Fig. 2. (Mus. Taylor.) 
Another state of the F. marmoratus which appears at 
first sight to have all the characteristics of a distinct 
species, and should be therefore figured. 
For Species 2. see Pl. IV. 
Species 3. (Mus. Cuming.) 
Fusus Ltonersstmus. us. testa elongato-fusiformi, spird 
acuminato-turritd, anfractibus undique spiraliter sul- 
catis et acute liratis, superne declivibus, medio nodosis ; 
intus extusque nived. 
November, 1847. 
