BUCCINID^. 139 



Dentition of typical form ; rhachidian tooth 5-6 dentate, laterals 

 5-6 dentate. 



Animal rather small, retractile with its operculum within the 

 shell for about a third of a volution from the aperture. 



The distribution of the genus is restricted to the temperate 

 and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Coast of the United 

 States, and its manifest conchological position connects Fascio- 

 laria with Neptunea. It is not infrequent in our miocene 

 deposits, from which several species have been described by Mr. 

 Conrad. 



The name Fulgur, meaning lightning, is in allusion to the 

 somewhat tortuous longitudinal brown streaks upon the shells 

 (of Southern specimens), indicating rest-periods in its growth. 

 The animal is used for bait by fishermen, and the trade in the 

 shells for garden ornaments and for use as hanging flower-pots 

 is so extensive as to have nearly caused the extermination of 

 the species upon portions of the New Jersey coast. 



Morch and Adams have used tlie name Busycon, of Bolten, 

 for this genus, but Bolten did not characterize it, whilst the 

 later name given by Montfort accompanies a full generic 

 description ; I therefore prefer Fulgur. It was included by 

 Lamarclv in the heterogeneous assemblage of species which he 

 called Pyrula. 



The late Dr. Jeffreys Wyman, in his valuable memoir on the 

 " Fresh-Water Shell Mounds of the St. John's River, Florida," 

 mentions two kinds of chisel-shaped tools cut from the shells of 

 Fulgur carica and F. perversa. These implements were probably 

 used by the aborigines for fleshing skins and for the manufacture 

 of articles of wood. F. perversa was also used by the Florida 

 Indians as a drinking vessel, the interior whorls being removed 

 to increase its capacity. This same species was extensively 

 used and mu.st have been an important article of trade among 

 the natives, as it is frequently found in Indian graves and 

 mounds throughout the Southern and Western States and 

 Canada. It is probable that, among other uses, it was cut up 

 into beads and various small ornaments. The white kind of 

 wampum or shell money of the Indians was partially made of 

 the axis of the shells of Fulgur, and partially from Buccinum 

 undatum. 



SYCOTYPUS (Browne), Gill. Shell with canaliculate suture, 

 periostraca ciliated, nodulous instead of spinous. F. canalicu- 

 latus, Say (xlix, 17, 18). 



I do not consider Browne's description sufficiently character- 

 istic to meet the requirements of a diagnosis ; moreover, these 

 shells are known not to inhabit Jamaica. Gill's diagnosis is, of 

 course, accurate, but it mainly repeats the characters of Fulgur ; 

 the real difference is in the canaliculated sutures and ciliated 



