OF SOUTHERN INDIA. 93 
themselves, however, of the opportunity of the new generié distinction, regarding the 
ornamentation as unimportant and admitting only special reference to the characteristic 
form of the shell. This is in many cases quite correct, but it is well known, that the 
kind of ornamentation often carries with it such changes in the character of the 
shell and thus anticipates the existence of organs, which are often recorded as generic 
distinctions. There are at least 35 cretaceous species known, which belong to this 
genus, and the number of tertiary is still larger. It will soon be necessary, if those 
species come to be properly classified, to direct attention to these and similar dis- 
tinctions, and to group them in a way similar to what has been already done with 
the genus Voluta itself. 
The number of columellar plaits varies in the fossil species usually between two 
and three, the latter being the most common, but the finer plaits seem to be often 
obliterate in a fossil state. The gradual and moderate prolongation of the anterior 
extremity and the shortness of the spire are often the only exterior distinctions which 
can be noticed between Volutilithes and Fasciolaria. 
1. VoLUTILITHES LATISEPTA, Stoliczka. Pl. TX, Figs. 1 and 2. 
Vol. testa ovate elongata, spira brevi; anfractibus quinis sew senis, primis levi- 
gatis, ultimo maximo, subinflato, omninis transversim costatis ; costis tenuis, 8—10 
im uno circuitu, parum obliquis, ad suturam fere obsoletis, supra medium maxime 
elevatis, crassioribus atque non-nunquam subtuberculatis, antice in ultimo anfractu 
obsoletis ; superficie striis tenuissimis spiralibus tecta; columella tres plicas per- 
obliquas, tenues exhibente. 
Spiral angle 44°—46°; sutural angle 12°—13°. 
This shell in many respects recalls VY. Casparini, D’Orb., from the European 
cretaceous deposits (vide Pal. France. Pl. 220, Fig. 5, and Sitzungsb. Akad. Wien, 1865, 
Vol. LII, Revision ete. p. 72) differing from it by a generally smaller number of trans- 
verse ribs, shorter spire, but comparatively higher and less numerous whorls, and by 
having the three columellar folds much more obliquely placed. The embryonal whorls 
are somewhat enlarged, thickened, convex and smooth. The shell surface, when well 
preserved, exhibits on the other whorls very close and fine spiral strize crossed by as 
many lines of growth, assuming on this account an irregular undulating course. The 
margin of the outer lip is thickened and smooth; the aperture posteriorly pointed ; 
the inner lip thin. The ribs on the upper whorls are somewhat more numerous 
than on the last. It is possible that Prof. Forbes meant this species under his Vol. 
septemcostata (1. cit. p. 131, Pl. 12, Fig. 3), but nothing approximately certain can 
be made out of his figure or description, although this is the only way in which I 
can offer any signification for the species referred to. 
Locality —N. and 8. of Cumalypooram, 8. W. of Arrialoor, in Trichinopoly 
district ; does not appear to be a common shell. 
Formation.—Avrrialoor group. 
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