AURICULACEA. 77 



ATTENUATED. Drawn out, long, thin, tapering, as the extre- 

 mities of Ovulum Volva, fig. 442. 

 ATYS. Montf. A generic name including those species of Bulla, 

 which are described as "convolute, with the last whorl covering 

 the rest and hiding the spire, the apex rounded at both ends." 

 Bulla Nan cum, Auct. fig. 250. 

 AURICLE. (A little ear.) See Auriculated. 

 AURICULA. Lam. (Dim. from Juris an ear.) Fam. Auriculacea. 

 Bl. Colimacea, Lam. — JDescr. Oval or oblong, cylindrical or conical; 

 aperture long, narrow, generally narrowest in the centre ; rounded 

 anteriorly, with two or three strong folds on the inner lip, and 

 the outer lip thickened, reflected or denticulated ; spire short, 

 obtuse, epidermis horny, brown. — Obs. The above description 

 includes the A. coniformis, f. 298. and several other conical spe- 

 cies with narrow apertures which formed the genus Melampus, 

 Montf. and Conovulus, Lam. The latter author suppressed his 

 genus on ascertaining the Conovuli to be land shells. We ex- 

 clude, however, the A. Dombeyana, Lam. f. 300. and several 

 similar species, which being more rounded, having thin outer lips 

 and but one fold on the columella, are described under the generic 

 name Chilina^ Gray. It appears rather doubtful whether the 

 Auriculae are marine or fluviatile, but the animals appear to be 

 amphibious. The Auriculae are principally found in Salt Marshes 

 of Tropical climates, some small species are found on the Southern 

 European Coasts, as far north as Britain and south as Tierra del 

 Fuego. The Auriculae formed a part of the genus Voluta of 

 Linnseus, f. 297. A. Judse, f. 298. A. Coniformis. 

 AURICULATED. Some bivalve shells, such as Peeten, fig. 171, 

 172, have a flat, broad, somewhat triangular appendage on one 

 or both sides of the umbones, called an auricle, or little ear. If 

 on one side only, they are said to be uni-auriculated ; if on both, 

 they are said to be bi-auriculated. 

 AURICULACEA. Bl. The second family of the order Pulmobran- 

 chiata, thus described ; " shell thick, solid ; aperture more or 

 less oval, always large, rounded anteriorly, and contracted by 

 ' teeth 6r folcls on the columella." This family is included in the 



