284 Analytical Notices of Books . 



The Genera of Recent and Fossil Shells: hy G. B. SowERirv', 

 F.L.S.j xcilh original Plates by J. D. C. Sowekby, F.L.S.^ 

 No. xxix. 



Of the seven genera illustrated in the present number, one 

 alone requires particular notice. In our last analysis we gave tlie 

 characters of the two new genera proposed by Mr. Broderip to be 

 removed from the Voluicv^ Lam.; we have now to exhibit those 

 by which he circumscribes the remaining species under the generic 

 name Foluta. They are as follows : " Testa subovata, coloribus 

 plerumque variis eximie picta. Apex papillaris. Columella pli- 

 cata. plicis inferioribus maximis, basi emarginata. Epidermis 

 tenuis, fusca. Animal carnivorum. Caput tentaculis duobus 

 instructum. Oculi ad tentaculorum basin externam appositi. Pes 

 maximus. Operculo caret. Habitat marinum in calidioribus 

 mundi veteris regionibus, rarior in Indiis occidentaiibus." It is 

 necessary to mention that the description of the animal is not 

 drawn from actual observation, but rests solely on the afiinity 

 presumable from the close resemblance of tlie shell of Voluta to 

 that of Mela. The numerous species which are still included 

 under this generic appellation, are shown to be divisible into five 

 sections, several of which admit of farther subdivision. Some of 

 the sections, in Mr. Broderip's opinion, will hereafter assume tho 

 rank of genera. 



A very brief notice of the other genera will suffice. Dolium, 

 Terebra, and Teredina, arc employed in their common accep- 

 tation, Xjjlophaga and Mulleria are also used in the sense given 

 to them by their original describers; the former having been 

 applied by Dr. Turton to designate his Teredo dorsalis, an un- 

 common and curious inhabitant of our own coasts; and the latter 

 by De Ferussac to an extremely interesting group, which had 

 been confounded with /Etheria, but which api)arently connects 

 that genus with the irregular marine bivalves, Ostrea for example. 

 No more than one species of Mulleria has yet been detected, and 

 this is so extremely rare, that only three specimens of it are 

 known to exist. The one figured is from the collection of Mr. J. 



