138 CYPEiECASSIS. 



not inflected, nor are tlie teeth formed. In this state the shell 

 resembles, in some degree, an OHva. Some species are striated, 

 ribbed, or tuberculated, but the generality are smooth. Most 

 species belong to tropical climates, only one to Great Britain. 

 The C. Moneta is current as money in some parts of Africa, and 

 many species are worn as ornaments by the South Sea Islanders. 

 The colouring in most species is exceedingly rich, and arranged 

 in every variety of spots, patches, rings, lines, bands and clouds. 

 The species most esteemed by collectors are C. Mappa, C. Tes- 

 tudinaria, C. Pustulata, C. Aurora, C. Princeps, of which only 

 two specimens are known, C Leucodon, &c. See also Cyprseo- 

 vulum, Trivea and Luponia. The fossil species are principally 

 from the Calc-grossier, the London Clay, Crag, &c. The latest 

 revision of this genus has been effected by Mr. Gr. B. Sowerby, 

 sen., who has published a complete catalogue in the author's Con- 

 chological Illustrations. This catalogue enumerates 130 species, 

 the whole of which are figured in parts 1 to 8, 101 to 131 of the 

 above mentioned work. PI. xsi. fig. 445 to 450. 

 CYPE^CASSIS. Stutch. (Cypr«a and Cassis.)— De^er. Shell, 

 when young, striated, reticulated, or tuberculated ; outer lip 

 simple : when mature, outer lip involute and toothed ; columellar 

 lip also toothed ; aperture straight, anteriorly terminated by a 

 recurved canal, posteriorly by a shallow channel. Animal with 

 the mantle bilobed ; operculum none. — Obs. The reasons given 

 for separating this genus from Cassis, are, 1st, That the shells 

 of the latter have an operculum, while those of the proposed 

 genus have none. 2nd, That the Cyprgecassides do not form a 

 complete, thickened lip, before the full period of their growth, 

 like the Gassides. 3rd, That the Cyprsecassides have no epidermis. 

 The species mentioned as probably belonging to Cyprsecassis are 

 C. rufa, the type ; C. coarctata, and C. Testiculus, Auct. The 

 establishment of this genus has been opposed on the ground that 

 indications of epidermis are discoverable in some specimens of 

 C. rufa ; that some specimens of the same species and Testiculus 

 have been examined, and found to have formed slightly thickened 

 and dentulated outer lips at very early periods of growth, while 



