EXOTIC CONCHOLOGY. IQ 



markings ; pilkr with five plaits. Length three inches and a quarter. Habitat : 

 New Zealand. 



Until lately this shell has been considered one of the most rare and valuable 

 shells of the genus. A few specimens have however been recently brought to 

 England by the South Sea vessels, principally* as I learn, from the Bay of Islands, 

 and have found their way into the London Collections ; it is, nevertheless, a shell 

 very rarely seen. Two striking vax'ieties appear to exist ; one of which is nearly 

 smooth, or with only small tubercles ; the other has large three-sided nodules on 

 the two lower volutions, and the terminal ones plaited. This variety is figured 

 from Mr. Dubois's cabinet ; it has the apex imperfect, but the aperture filled up by 

 the animal — a circumstance that occurs in two others in that gentleman's collection, 

 one of which is near half as large again. The smooth variety is in the possession 

 of C. Maud, Esq. and is remarkable for its perfection. It is often tinged with a 

 bright reddish colour, similar to V. 011a, but which is external, and not the real 

 colouring matter of the shell. Gmelin erroneously describes the number of plaits 

 as four instead of five. The mouth at the base is effuse, and the margin slightlv 

 reflected. 



C. TUBERCULATA. TUBERCULATED MUSIC. 



Plate XXIX. 



Testa ventricosa, anfraetibus transversim sublevatis, tubercolatis : pallid^ fulva, venulis 

 remotis, angulatis, spadiceis, UDdulata : spira brevi, attenuata ; apertura effusa : 

 columella quinqueplicata. 



Foluta Subnodosa, ? Leach, Zool. Misc. 1. tab. 8. fig. 24. Wood's Cat. Sup. A''oluta, 

 no. 22. Kiener, Volutse, pi. 31. 



Shell ventricose, whorls with an elevated transverse row of tubercles ; pale 

 fulvous, undulated by distant lines of an orange chesnut colour. Length three 

 inches and a half. 



This is a new and undescribed Music ; unless indeed the V. Subnodosa of Dr. 

 Leach is intended for this species, which it is impossible to ascertain, from the 

 brevity of the description, and insufl[iciency of the figure, neither of which expresses 

 the number of plaits, or the form of the mouth, &c. The only specimen of the 

 shell I have seen was pm-chased in Paris, and is now in my possession. Towards 

 the top of the body-whoi'l there is a slightly carinated elevation, broken into small 

 nodulous tubercles, w^hich are continued on the three following volutions of the 

 spire ; the two next whorls, which form the tip, are smooth, polished, and white. 

 The suture is prominent, the aperture eff"use, and the pillar has five thick obtuse 



