V O L U T A punctata, 

 Red-dotted Volute. 



Generic Chakacter. 

 Testa ovata. Spira aperturd brevior, apice papillari. Basis tnincafa, 



emarginata. Columella plicata, plicis inferioribus majoribus. 

 Shell ovate. Spire shorter than the aperture, the tip papillary. 



Base truncated, emarginate. Pillar plaited, the inferior plaits 



generally largest. 

 Generic Types. Volutce Olla, Imperialis, Pacifica, ^-c. 



Specific Character. 



V, testdovatd, subfusiformi, tuberculatd, pallide rubelld,fasciis 'imacu- 



latis, riibris, punctis tninutis interstinctis ; columelld 4 plicatd. 



Shell ovate, subfusiform, tuberculated, flesh-coloured, with two 

 bands of red spots interspersed with minute dots ; pillar 4 

 plaited. 



In " Exotic Conchology/' I have commenced, and intend 

 to complete, a copious illustration of this noble family of 

 shells ; which (if the simile be admissible) may be termed 

 the nobles of testaceous animals, with as much truth as 

 Linnseus has called Palms the princes of the vegetable world. 

 The Volutes, indeed, are imposing shells ; both from their 

 size, rarity, and their rich (but not gaudy) colouring ; and it 

 is not improbable that the value of a choice collection of 

 the principal species, would be equal to their own weight 

 in solid gold. 



The species now under consideration is only known from 

 an injured specimen in Mr. Dubois' cabinet ; although much 

 rubbed on one side, it presents on the other a true pattern of 

 its original markings; the margin of the outer lip, and the 

 tip of the spire, are both injured ; yet, notwithstanding these 

 defects, there are abundant characters remaining to evince 

 its total dissimilarity from any other recorded species. 



I have preferred subjoining only the essential generic 

 characters of this genus, as most intelligible to students ; 

 particularly as its natural characters are fully detailed in the 

 first part of " Exotic Conchology." 



PI. 161. 



