GENUS HARPA. 9 
-3. HARPA NOBILIS, Lam. The Noble Harp. 
(Collect. Mass. Lam.) Last., Conch., pl. 992, fig. 55. 
Pl. Ill, fig. 5. 
H. testA ovata, subventricosa, griseo-albo et fusco varia, maculis amplis 
purpureo-sanguineis pictd; costis latiusculis; lineis nigris capillaribus 
transversim fasciculatis; spira submuricata. 
Shell ovate, a little ventricose; spire slightly elongated, 
submuricated, the whirls flattened above, surmounted by ribs 
which are continued ; these are from 12 to 14 in number, be- 
coming broader as they approach the lip; they are ornament- 
ed with transverse black lines, dividing them into unequal 
spaces, the coloring of which is less deep than that of the in- 
terstices of the ribs; these last are of a grayish or brown tint, 
of little variety, with wide spots, which sometimes form bands 
of a bloody purple. Undulating lines in zigzags or white fes- 
toons, and brown meanderings between them. The upper 
band of the last whirl oftentimes becomes more apparent from 
the brightened or even whitish shade of its color ; aperture 
ovate, of an orange white; right lip marked by brown spots 
internally, and bordered externally by the last mb which is 
denticulated in a portion of its length. The columella slightly 
arched at the base, almost covered in its length by three very 
distant violet or brown spots. 
Length 3 inches. Width 22 lines. 
Inhabits the Indian Ocean. 
This species is pretty constant in its characters ; nevertheless, 
it happens that some specimens have a paler coloring, and the 
festoons are perceptible only by intervals, and have then the 
appearance of pretty irregular bands. ‘The specimen represent- 
ed, pl. 6, fig. 11, is of a brownish red. Others are of a clear 
red. 
Harpa. B 
