132 CYPR^A. 



mencing with the outer lip, spreads over the body of the shell.— 

 Obs. These very elegant shells, found in Africa, are distinguished 

 from the true Volutes by the shapeless, mammillated apex of the 

 short spire, by the large size of the aperture, and by the horizontal 

 ledge which separates the outer lip from the body whorl. The 

 genus Melo, also separated by Mr. Broderip from the Volutes, 

 agrees with Cymba in some respects, but differs in the regularity 

 of the spire. Fig. 434, C. Porcina. 



CYMBIOLA. Sw. The generic name for a group of Volutes, de- 

 scribed as " armed with spinous tubercules, sometimes smooth, 

 but never ribbed ; spiral whorls gradually diminishing in size, but 

 not distorted ; apex thick and obtuse ; pillar with four plaits." 

 Mr. Swainson remarks that this genus is chiefly distinguished by 

 the obtuse, but not irregular spire. The typical species are stated 

 to be V. Rutila and V. Vespertilio, fig. 433. Tropical. 



CYMBULIA (Dim. from Cymba.) Fam, Pteropoda, Lam. An 

 extremely light, cartilaginous covering of a molluscous animal, so 

 named from its similarity in shape to a boat. We mention it 

 here on account of its similarity to the shelly or glassy covering 

 of other Pteropods, to which, although membranaceous, it is evi- 

 dantly analogous. The Cymbuliae are found in the Mediterranean. 



CYPRiEA. Auct. Fam. Enroulees, Lam. Angyostomata, Bl. — 

 Bescr. Oval or oblong, ventricose, convolute, covered by an 

 enamel, generally smooth and shining. Spire short, nearly 

 hid. Aperture long, narrow, terminating in a short canal at both 

 extremities. Outer lip dentated, thickened, inflected. Inner lip 

 dentated, thickened, reflected over part of the body whorl. — Obs. 

 These shells are so distinguished by the two rows of teeth ar- 

 ranged on each side of the aperture ; the thickened front formed 

 by the inner and outer lips ; and the enamel deposited over the 

 back of the shell from the mantle of the animal which envelopes 

 it, that there is no danger of confounding them with any other 

 genus, except in a young state. Before they have arrived at the 

 full growth, the front is not thickened, and the outer lip is thin, 

 not inflected, nor are the teeth formed. In this state the shell 



