MARGINELLA oblonga 
— ee 
Family Volutide. Genus Marginella. Lam. Sys. 7. p 354. 
Sus-Genus VoLuTELia. Nob. 
Shell oval-ventricose: Spire concealed: outer lip generally smooth; 
base of the pillar with four to five oblique plaits: aperture 
* smooth within. 
Type, Marginella bullata. Lam. 
SpecrFic CHARACTER. 
Shell oblong, rather gibbous round the middle, fawn coloured, with 
two obsolete bands: spire concealed: outer lip and summit 
marked by orange spots: pillar 4 plaited. 
Pe eee ee 
A species not hitherto described; its shape is unusually 
oblong, and the spire is quite concealed: We are un- 
acquainted with its locality. The perpendicular line ex- 
presses the natural size. 
In Voluta and Mitra, the two typical groups of this 
family, the variations of form are so striking, and the species 
so numerous, that we readily assent to the plan, proposed 
by others, of further dividing them into genera: but in the 
aberrant group, containing Oliva, Ancillaria, and Margi- 
nella, the forms are less diversified, and the species fewer ; 
the minor divisions may therefore, for the present, be termed 
sub-genera. ‘The approximation of Marginella to Voluta 
has frequently been stated. In M. bullata we have a mini- 
ature melon Volute, while M. faba is a no less obvious 
representation of V. magnifica. Hence these forms appear 
typical. Yet M. persicula and lineata cannot well be 
placed with either, as their characters seem to indicate a 
direct analogy to Conohelix among the Mitres. AS to 
Volvaria, we concur with other writers, in thinking that 
the French Conchologists have erroniously blended that 
genus with Marginella. 
—<>-——— 
MARGINELLA §guttata. 
Oval, spire concealed, covered with transverse oval spots margined 
with white, somewhat ocellate, and disposed longitudinally ; 
pillar 4 platted. 
We could give no correct idea of this very pretty shell, 
without enlarging the figures; the natural size is indi: 
cated by the horizontal line. Our specimen is the only one 
we have yet seen, nor do we know its habitat. 
Marginella Pit 
