SCAPHELLA maculata. 

 Olive Volute. 



Family Voliitidye. Sub-family Volutinge. Nob. 

 Generic Character. 



SlitU fucifoim, invariably smooth and polished : spiral whorls 

 gradually diminishing in size, the apex obtuse hut rarely 

 thickened or distorted : pillar generally gibbous in the middle, 

 with from four to six thick and unequal plaits: margin of the 

 outer lip thickened. 



Typical Species.— Scaph. undulata. Junonia, maculata, zebra. 



Aberrant Species. — Scaph. papillaris, eiongata (?) 



Specific Character. 



Shell small, oval, fulvous, icith longitudinal purplish-brown spots, 

 disposed in three transverse bands: spire conical : pillar four 

 plaited, not gibbous. 



Voluta maculata. Sivains. Bligh. Cat. app. p. 11. 



Of this distinct and very remarkable genus of Volutes, few 

 species have hitherto been discovered : the subordinate di- 

 visions cannot therefore be traced; nor do we feel satisfied that 

 all the typical characters have been detected : we consider it 

 nevertheless, as a perfectly natural genus, absolutely essential 

 to mark the connection between the Vohites and the Mar- 

 ginilbt'. Lamark, indeed, as if aware of this affinity, actu- 

 ally describes one species as a Marginilla. The union of 

 the three aberrant genera of Scaphella, Volvtilithes, and 

 Harpula, into one circle, is eifccted by the Scap. papillaris 

 and the Harpula Lapponica : the former species conduct- 

 ing us at the same time to the typical Volutes, by means of 

 Voluta fulgetrum of Sowerby. 



Scaphella maculata is a native of the Australian seas, and 

 is of great rarity. Our drawings were made from one 

 of the beautiful specimens in Mr. Broderip's possession, 

 It is probable that the animals of this genus envelope their 

 shells in an ample mantle, since they arc almost always 

 enamelled. 



87. 



