196 FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES, [12] 



Urosalpinx cinerea, Stimpson. 



This is the " Drill " or " Kough Whelk," and is abundant along the 

 whole eastern coasts of the United States from Massachusetts Bay to 

 Florida. It is also found on the west coast of Florida and in the G ulf 

 of Mexico. It is more rare and local north of Massachusetts Bay, but 

 extends to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. It occurs in the Post-Pliocene 

 deposits of Massachusetts, Nantucket, Virginia, North and South Caro- 

 lina, in the Pliocene of South Carolina, and Miocene of Maryland. 



Purpura lapillus, Lamarck. 



The shell of this animal resembles somewhat that of the preceding 

 species, and the animal itself has similar carnivorous habits, but is a 

 more arctic type, living in the colder waters north of Cape Cod and in- 

 habiting exposed rocky headlands, while the U. cinerea is found at all 

 points. The Purpura lapillus is extremely abundant on the coasts of 

 Maine and Nova Scotia, and extends to Long Island Sound. It has 

 been found in the Post Pliocene of Maine, but is not a common fossil. 



The Urosalpinx cinerea is more abundant in brackish water and on 

 shelly bottoms than elsewhere, but is found indiscriminately wherever 

 there is suitable food. The Purpura lapillus, though like the " Drill," 

 a borer, confines itself to the barnacles growing on the rocks ; but the 

 Urosalpinx is much more harmful and is an inveterate enemy of the oys- 

 ter, boring, by means of the sharp, flinty teeth that cover its tongue, 

 round holes through the oyster- shell and sucking out the contents. It 

 is particularly destructive to young oysters in Chesapeake Bay, and a 

 shell has been observed having fifty-four young attached to it, of which 

 fifty had been destroyed by the " Drill." On some of the beds fully 50 

 per cent, of the young perish from this cause. It is probable that the 

 Purpura lapillus only lacks opportunity to effect similar results, and both 

 the animals and their curious vase-shaped egg-capsules, attached to 

 stones and rocks by a short stalk, should be destroyed whenever met. 



Lunatia heros, Adams. 



Is found from Georgia to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. It is abund- 

 ant on the coast of New Jersey and southern coast of Long Island from 

 low water to 10 fathoms. Occurs in the Miocene formation of Maryland, 

 Virginia, and South Carolina, in the Pliocene of South Carolina, and in 

 the Post Pliocene of Canada and South Carolina. 



Weverita duplicate, Stimpson. 



Exists on the eastern coast of the United States from Florida to Mas- 

 sachusetts Bay, and on the northern and western shores of the Gulf of 

 Mexico. It is abundant from Long Island Sound southward, and is 

 found as a fossil in the Miocene and Post Pliocene deposits of Virginia, 

 North and South Carolina, in the Miocene of Maryland, and in the Plio- 



