UNIVALVES. 



PLATE XXIX. 



Genus. MELANIA. 



Character. Shell spiral, without any rostrum or beak; cheek projecting and 

 rounded ; mouth contorted, and surrounded with a broad rim ; umbilicus none ; the 

 columella slightly twisted, and joined to the cheek by a circular border. 



Species. 



No. 1. Melania aurantia. Shell orange coloured, striped with elegant longitu- 

 dinal red veins ; the rim of the mouth broad and variegated with blue and 

 red. This beautiful specimen is found only in New Zealand. From a de- 

 lineation of a specimen in Mr. Jennings's Museum. 



No. 2. Melania acuta. Shell white, streaked with pale yellow; the mouth of a 

 pale brown; the top of the spire very taper in form, and colour of a dark 

 brown ; the rim of the mouth very much indented. A native of the South 

 Seas. This shell has also been figured by Born. 



No. 3. Melania carnatis. Shell of a beautiful pink colour in the mouth, with 

 the folds of the spires various, yellow, blue, and purple ; the rim of the 

 mouth broad and wrinkled doubly upon the body and side. A native of 

 the East Indies, and having a very splendid and shevvy contrast in its 

 colours. 



No. 4. Melania nonpareil. Shell white, slightly streaked longitudinally with 

 brown ; spire pointed, and most curiously adorned with blue and brown 

 streaks, having the appearance of a rich porcelain vase ; the mouth carun- 

 culated and angular at the top, and inferior extremity, with a broad boun- 

 dary line running all round on the inner part, following the form of the 

 shell. This singular shell is said to be a native of China, and is extremely 

 rare. From a shell in Mr. Lloyd's Museum. 



No. 5. Melania striata. Shell striped, of a sallow colour ; the mouth orange 

 coloured, and narrow at the top ; the rim broad and white, of an irregular 

 form. It is a native of New California. From one in the possession of 

 Mr. Hyde. 



REMARKS. 



The characters of this curious genus are so distinctly marked, that by a bare inspection 

 they will be readily noted and distinctly remembered. These shells have sometimes been 

 erroneously classed in the genus Bulla, but from this and all other shells, their broad rim or 

 margin running round the mouth sufficiently distinguishes them ; there is also a faint ap- 

 proach to something like a tooth, on the body side, and inner part of the mouth. This 

 genus vies with all others known, by its gaudy and capricious display of fascinating colours. 

 The spire is generally rounded at the top, and the substance of the shell membranaceous and 

 transparent. It may be observed also of this family of shells, that it has an imperfect and 

 distant resemblance to the genus Bulimus, described in the following Plate, but exhibits 

 certain precise distinctions. It forms a pleasing and agreeable addition to our various dis- 

 coveries in the southern regions of the globe. 



