MOLLUSCA. 797 



Turbinopsis 7 elevata Whitfield. 

 Plate LXXXIII, Figs. 14-15. 



1902. Turbinopsis elcvala Whitf., Pal. N. J., vol. 2 (Monog. 



U. S. G. S., vol. 18), p. 102, pi. 12, figs. 13-14 (not 



figs. 10-12). 

 1905. Turbinopsis elevata Johns., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil. 



(1905). P- 26. 



Description. — "Shell of moderately small size as indicated by 

 internal casts only; spire elevated, consisting of but few whorls, 

 which in the casts are widely disconnected, indicating a thick 

 shell or whods disconnected in the shell itself, which is most 

 probable ; volutions convex, rounded above and on the periphery, 

 but compressed and wedge-form below ; aperture elongate-ovate, 

 rounded above, but wedge-shaped below; umbilical opening, in 

 the cast, quite large, smooth, not showing any indication of the 

 spiral tooth-like ridge; surface of the cast showing rather dis- 

 tant vertical folds, but very little indication of spiral striae, the 

 shell being probably too thick for them to be transmitted to the 

 cast." (Whitfield.) 



Remarks. — ^This species and the closely-allied T. curta have 

 been among the most puzzling of the gastropod shells in New 

 Jersey collections, in regard to their generic relations. The 

 species are only known from internal casts, which, of course, 

 makes their generic reference the more difficult. The essential 

 characters common to both are the broad columellar cavity which 

 undoubtedly indicates an umbilicate shell, the absence of colu- 

 mellar folds, and the more or less distinct vertical plications of 

 the shell. It seems impossible to refer them to Turbinopsis 

 where they are placed by Whitfield on account of the entire ab^- 

 sence of columellar folds, the members of that genus being char- 

 acterized by one strong fold upon the columella situated very 

 low down. In their essential characters these species seem to 

 agree with some of the shells referred to Pyrifusus by Whit- 

 field, especially P. mullicaensis and P. ntacfarlandi. P. mullicaensis 

 does not have quite so- broad a columellar cavity relatively and 



