EXOTIC CONCHOLOGY, 13 



tlio first spiral whorl, and longitudinal lines of a paler colour than the general tint 

 run the whole length of the shell. Size four inches but frequently more. Inhabits 

 the Asiatic ocean. 



VOLUTA MELO. INDIAN SPOTTED MELON. 



Plate XXII. 



Testa ventricosa nonnumquam ventricosissima, albido-lutescente, maculis fuscis subtri- 



seriata : spira loevi obtecta : columella 4 plicata. 

 Valuta Indica, Gmelin, 3467. no. 120. 

 Valuta Mela, Lam. Ann. du Mus. p. 59. no. 6. and Anx^ sans V. 7, p. 331. no. 7. 



Dilwyn, p. 580. no. 188. Mart. 3. tab. 72. fig. 772,3. Enc. Met. 389. fig. I. 



KnoiT, 5. tab. 8. fig. 1. Kienei', VolutEe, pi. 15. "Wood's Cat. pi. 21. fig. 185. 

 Taung. V. Prccputium, Gmel. 3468. no. 124. Lister, 798, fig. 5. Cham. 10. tab. 148. 



fig. 1391, 2. 



Of this beautiful though common shell, not a tolerable coloured figure has yet 

 been published : its usual colour is a clear orange-tinted yellow, marked by rich 

 chesnut spots disposed in two or three transverse bands : in form it is oval-ventricose, 

 but subject to much variation ; the spire is smooth and nearly concealed, and the 

 pillar four plaited. A character sometimes exists in this shell which in others is 

 not observable, of three or four remote slender indented striae across the body-whorl. 

 The young shells of this and all the Melons have the spire of the same size as in 

 the full grown shell, when it becomes nearly covered by the body-whorl. Linnseus, 

 not being aware of this, has in several instances described them as distinct species. 

 No doubt can exist that his V. Prseputium is no other than the vouncr of this shell, 

 which is a native of the Indian seas. Size six inches. 



* V. CYMBIUM. NEPTUNE'S CAR. 



Plate XXXIV. 



Testa subovata albo rufoque marmorata ; spira caiinata, canaliculata, apice subglandiformi 



conspicuo : columella triplicata. 

 V.Cymhium, Lin. Gmel. 3466. no. 114. Lam. Anx. sans V. p. 332. no. 9. Dilwyn, 



p. 576. no. 181. Lister, 796 f. 3. Gualt, 29 b. Seba, 3. tab. 65. fig. 8, 9. Mart. 



3. tab. 70. fig. 763. Enc. Met. 386. fig. 3. Wood, Volutje, 178. Bred. Mon. 



Cymba, no. 9. Kiener, VolutEe, pi. 13. Blain, Mai. pi. 29. fig. 2. Sow. Gen. 



* This excellent description I liave extracted (together with those of Porcina, OUa and Rubigiuosa) 

 from Broderip's Monograph of the genus Cymba, a work far beyond the meed of praise of mine. 



