﻿232 DEVONIAN FAUNA. 



the specimens in the Torquay Museum is interesting, as, though only 3 mm. high, 

 it contains parts of the nucleus and four whorls. It seems decidedly a narrower 

 and more elevated shell than any of the other specimens,— so much so, indeed, 

 that I am in doubt whether it will prove to belong to this species ; but, as the 

 ornament is exactly the same, and the specimen is not sufficiently perfect for us to 

 be certain of its true shape, it seems better to leave it for the present under this 

 heading. With some of the other specimens it shows that the shell was acuminate 

 at least in the young stage. 



Phillips refers this species to the genus Turbo. But, though he does not 

 mention the remarkable retroflexion of the body-whorl, he shows it clearly in his 

 figure, which thus proves that it cannot be a " Turbo." His type specimen has not 

 yet been recognised. 



Minister's own figure represents a small shell with markings similar to those of 

 our specimens, but it does not show the peculiar twist of the body-whorl, and 

 ends just like an ordinary Gasteropod. This might very well be accounted for by 

 supposing the specimen to be imperfect, or to have been too young to have deve- 

 loped the peculiar mouth ; so that there is no reason for questioning the correct- 

 ness of Phillips's identification in this case. 



It also appears from Sandberger's description and figure to be the same shell 

 as his Scoliostoma megastoma, the only difference being (if we understand his fig. 2 b 

 aright) that the concentric ridges are only visible on the back of the body-whorl, 

 and not on its upper and lower sides. Of this, however, he says nothing in the 

 letterpress, and it is so slight a distinction that, even if it is not a mere slip of the 

 draughtsman, it is altogether too small a thing to be counted more than an 

 accidental individuality. He also speaks of a slight carina close to the suture, 

 but I can see no trace of it either in the English specimens or in his own figures 



Neither can I see any distinction of specific value between it and 8c. crassi- 

 labrum. If the distinction be that 8c. crassilabrum, Sandberger, has wider 

 furrows than 8c. megastoma, then the former comes nearer the English form in 

 that respect than the latter. If it be, on the other hand, in the greater convexity 

 of its whorls, it is, I think, clear from the English specimens that this character 

 varies considerably ; and, indeed, the spire is of such an elementary nature that 

 considerable variation in it might be expected. I have therefore added this name 

 also to the list of synonyms. 



Sandberger separates the Turbo texatus, Phil., from that of Miinster, and refers 

 it to the genus Scoliostoma, but he did not recognise it from its drawing as the 

 shell he was describing. We have already seen that the difference in Minister's 

 shell is probably only due to its immature condition. 



Turbo cyclostomoides, F. A. Romer, seems identical, except that it wants the 

 twisted lower whorl. Romer describes the aperture as " angulated circular," 



