GASTEROPODA OP THE LOWER GREEN MARLS. 89 



to four in number; body volution large, forming about six-sevenths of the 

 entire length, very gently convex throughout its entire length, except near 

 the anterior end, where it becomes very slightly recurved; aperture very 

 large, but narrow, acute above and below; columellar plaits iniknown; sur- 

 face of the shell marked by spiral ridges and by vertical lines; the former 

 much the stronger and alternating in size where preserved sufficiently well 

 to show; the vertical lines cut the spiral ridges so as to break them into 

 nodes on the outer shell. 



This species closely resemble B. Texanus Conrad, but may be distin- 

 guished by the shorter spire, which, in proportion to the length of the shell, 

 is not much more than half as high as in that species. It differs in the same 

 respect from all the associated species and also in the more slender form 

 than that of most of them; also in the strength of the markings. The cast 

 of this species has not been recognized. It would most probably resemble 

 that of B. angulahis more nearly than any other of the Ncav Jersey forms, 

 but would differ in the length of the spire and in the more symmetrical 

 body volution. 



This species has usually been included under the Valuta Conradi of 

 Gabb, by collectors, as also were those herein described under the names 

 V. ponclerosa and V. Gabhana. I had for some time concluded to unite all 

 but the last-named one as varieties of the one species V. Conradi, but upon 

 studying a number of them together the differences appear so great that it 

 seems unreasonable in a group where the resemblances are so great among 

 the species as in the VolutidcB that so great a diversity should be allowed, 

 and I have concluded to separate under three names what I had originally 

 classed as one species, and I think they are properly specifically distinct. 



Formation and locality: In the Lower Green Marls at Holmdel, New 

 Jersey, in Prof. Reiley's collection; and at Freehold in the Rev. Dr. Schank's 

 collection. Cabinet at 'Rutgers College. 



VOLUTODERMA and VOLUTOMORPHA Gabb. 



In Mr. "W. M. Gabb's synopsis of the Volutidce^ he describes these two 

 genera, including them among the Volutes. On another page I have shown 

 some reasons for believing VolutomorpJia more nearly related to Fasciolaria 



iProo, Acad. Nat. Soi., Phila., 1876. 



