370 Mr. Cosmo Melvill on the 



Fustcs confusuSy Eocene, Barton, belong properly to LatiruSy 

 and a further revision of these is much needed. 



(VI.) Further Historical Account: ClassificatioUy Den- 

 titiony &c. — We have said that de Montfort's reasons for 

 describing his new genus, LatiruSy were inadequate, as he 

 simply relied upon the presence of an umbilicus, as opposed 

 to the true TurbinellidcE. 



In his type (Z. gibbulus) the infundibuliform umbilicus 

 varies greatly. I have seven specimens, and in none is 

 there much sign of columellar plaits, yet, as I have lately 

 remarked, there can be no doubt as to this being an 

 admirable type for a genus. The specimen has an umbilicus 

 15 mm. wide, whilst two are nearly closed. This shell is 

 conspicuous for its ponderosity, bright warm chestnut 

 colour, smooth with transverse lines running ribbon fashion 

 across in pairs. 



The same variation in the depth of the umbilicus may be 

 found in L. nodatuSy infundibulumy etc. ; small wonder, then, 

 that Dr. G. P. Deshayes, writing in the Diet. Univ. d' Historic 

 Nattirelky Tom. VII., characterized the genus thus : — 



" Latirus — Genre inutile etabli par Montfort, dans sa 

 Conchyliologie SystematiquCy pour le Fusus, dont le columelle 

 est ombiliquee." 



But, though in this sense useless, in other ways ft has 

 become one of the most abiding genera ; for when the 

 characters of the animal, and especially the Operculum and 

 Odontophore, began to be studied and revealed, it was found 

 necessary to remove these molluscs entirely away from the 

 Muricidce and Turbinellidce proper : and place them in a 

 family, proposed to be called Fasciolariinceiox their reception 

 with the genus Fasciolaria (Lam). 



And, after Dr. J. E. Gray had still further separated the 

 Leucozonice in 1847, and Morch the Peristerniince in 1852, 

 it was left for Messrs. H. and A. Adams {Gen. of Recent 



