82 TRANSACTIONS OF THE WAGNER FREE 



bent, secondary ; axis straight with four sharp, elevated plaits ; shell thin, un- 

 sculptured, without superimposed glaze ; spire short, the early whorls spirally 

 striate ; outer lip simple, thin, arched forward toward the middle, receding 

 somewhat at the suture, which is distinct, but not channelled. 



This group is nearly related to Caricella and seems to have preceded it, as 

 there are several Cretaceous species, notably Valuta deperdita Goldfuss, which 

 should probably be referred to it. It is sufficiently distinguished from Cymba 

 proper, which may be descended from Ettcymba, though this is not yet defi- 

 nitely established. 



This completes the review of the group comprising the American fossil 

 VoliitidcB. I have made no attempt to investigate the family as a whole for 

 want of satisfactory material and time, but believe that when a thorough re- 

 view of the whole family is attempted, the suggestions of the present sketch 

 may prove of importance. 



It now remains to enumerate and describe the species connected with the 

 present investigation, with which I shall include a few which are necessary for 

 illustration, but which do not form part of our Florida collection. 



Liopeplum Spillmani Dall. 



Plate 6, figure 12. 



? Valuta SpilbnaniTnomey , Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. vii. p. 169, 1S55. Cretaceous of 



Alabama. 



Shell small, rather thick, with the spire shorter than the aperture and the 

 whole surface covered with a thin and brilliant glaze; nucleus minute, " tro- 

 choid," in the adult obscured by glaze ; subsequent whorls five, constricted 

 in front of the closely appressed suture ; spiral sculpture, on the early whorls, 

 of narrow, shallow, close-set grooves, strongest behind the periphery, on the 

 last whorl obsolete, except near the canal ; transverse sculpture, beside incre- 

 mental lines, comprised, on the early whorls, of 15-20 close-set, small, distinct 

 riblets, strongest on the periphery and gradually becoming obsolete about the 

 third whorl ; these riblets are rounded and cross the whorl without flexure 

 nearly at right angles ; beside the general thin coat of glaze which covers the 

 whole shell, there is a special deposit on the periphery, growing tliicker as the 

 whorls increase, but more rounded and less prominent than m L. lioderma ; 

 the last whorl has its greatest diameter in front of the fasciole near the suture 

 and gradually tapers thence anteriorly ; the aperture is narrow and long ; the 

 canal not constricted, but rather deeply sulcate, making a well-marked siphonal 

 fasciole. Outer lip simple, smooth inside, receding near the suture and toward 

 the canal ; pillar nearly straight, with a thin wash of callus, perhaps more 

 prominent after maturity, with two distinct but feeble plaits, which are partly 

 obscured by callus ; near the posterior sinus of the aperture is a large mass of 

 glaze which on the last whorl is deposited a little below, but in the others 

 upon, the periphery. Lon. of shell 41. 0; of aperture 25.0; max. lat. of shell 

 17.0 mm. 



