116 CRETACEOUS GASTROPODA 
from being settled; the following, of several of which representatives are to be 
- found in the South Indian cretaceous rocks, are generally distinguished. 
1. Neptunea, Bolten, 1798. (Chrysodomus, Swainson, Gray’s Guide, 1857, 
p- 18. Volutopsis, Morch or Strombella Gray, ibid, vide H. and A. Adams’ Gen. II, 
p- 614.) Ventricose shells with short canal, often bent to the left and somewhat 
upwards; whorls convex, covered with a horny, rough epidermis, usually spirally 
striated, transverse varices obsolete, occasionally replaced by transverse ribbings, 
which are of about equal strength with the spiral ones. 
The living species of Neptwnea are coated with a thick epidermis and have a 
comparatively thin shell with obsolete transverse varices and a spiral striation only. 
The name ought to be retained for these forms only, and such species, quoted by 
H. and A. Adams under this genus, as V. anomala, funiculata, fusoides and others, 
have to be excluded and partially placed under Zrztonidea and others. 
Tertiary species, as Fusus glomus and glomoides, Gené, and several other forms 
have to be transferred to this genus, thus forming a very characteristic group of 
shells. Numerous cretaceous species belong also to it; (vide Proc. Am. Phil. Soe. 
1861, VIII, p. 118; Pal. Calif. 1864, I, p. 88; Sitz. Akad. Wien. 1865, LIT, 
Rev. ete. p. 77.) 
We notice two species from South India, Nept. rhomboidalis, Zek. sp. formerly 
described as Voluta id. by Zekeli from the Alpine Gosau-deposits, and WN. excavata, 
Blanf. sp., a remarkable form of the type of Fusus corrugatus, Reeve, and F. glomus, 
Gené, with a coarsely reticulated shell-surface. 
2. Euthria, Gray—Adams’ Gen. I, p. 86 — Spire about as high as the last whorl, 
conical; whorls smooth or spirally grooved, canal short, bent to the left (im front view) 
and somewhat recurved, aperture ovate, posteriorly subcanaliculated, inner lip smooth, 
outer lip suleated internally. The shells are more consistent and thicker than in any 
Fusus. Gray (Guide, 1857, p. 43) calls Zuthria a Triton with ‘ abortive or rudimentary 
varices’. The animal in form and colour resembles no doubt more the 7rrroyipa, 
than the ruszv.#, and if three lateral teeth can be proved to exist, the genus may 
perhaps be better transferred to the last family. I do not know whether all the ten 
living species attributed by Adams to this genus belong to it, some of them resemble 
(at least exteriorly) Bullia more. There are several tertiary species, which ex- 
hibit the characters of the genus very well, and of which Wept. cornea, Linn. is to be 
considered the type; but I am not acquainted with any cretaceous form exactly 
like; unless species such as Neptunea curvirostris, Gabb (Pal. Calif. I, p. 88, Pl. 18, 
Fig. 37), belong to it, which certainly does not appear very improbable. 
3. Clavella, Swainson, 1835 (Cyrtulus, Hinds), buccinoid or fusiform shells, 
with accumulated spire and sub-cylindrical graduated whorls ; surface smooth, spirally 
suleated and occasionally with transverse varices, last whorl much thickened. along 
the suture and somewhat contracted below it, forming an indistinct posterior canal 
cn the aperture, anterior canal very short or prolonged in a straight line; on the 
termination only occasionally bent. 
