188 MELONIA. 



MELANOIDES. Olivier. Melanopsis. Fer. 



MELANOPSIS. Fer. Fam. Melaniana, Lam. Entomostomata, Bl. 

 — Descr. Oval or oblong, fusiform; spire acute, sometimes elon- 

 gated ; aperture oblong or oval, pyriform, with a distinct notch at 

 the anterior extremity ; columella tortuous, callous, thickened at 

 the extremity near the spire ; epidermis thick, horny, generally 

 black. Subtropical.— Obs. This description includes the two first 

 species of the genus Pirena, Lam. The Melanopsides are known 

 from the Melanise by the notch in the aperture. Fig. 315. M. 

 costata. 



MELAS. Montf. Melania, Auct. 



MELATOMA. Sw. A sub-genus of Melanopsis. Sw. p. 341. 



MELEAGRINA. Lam. Margarita. A genus composed of the 

 Pearl Oyster and similar species, separated from Avicula on 

 account of the roundness of their general form, but re-united 

 by Sowerby. For generic characters, see Avicula. Fig. 164. M. 

 margaritifera. 



MELEAGRIS. Montf. Turbo Pica, Auct. and similar species, 

 having the aperture oblique, the columella gliding imperceptibly 

 into the outer lip, and having an umbilicus. 



MELINA. Schum. Perna, Auet. 



MELO. Brod. (Melo, a melon.) Fam. Columellaria, Lam. — 

 Descr. Light, ventricose, oval, with a light greenish brown epi- 

 dermis, spire short, papillary, regular, sometimes hidden by the 

 last whorl ; aperture large, nearly as long as the whole shell, 

 emarginated anteriorly ; outer lip thin ; columella slightly curved, 

 with four or five laminar, oblique, prominent plaits. — Obs. The 

 genus Melo has been separated from Voluta principally on account 

 of the largeness of the aperture, the lightness of the shell and the 

 thinness of the outer lip. Melo differs from Cymbain the regula- 

 rity of the spiral apex, and in the greater rotundity of the shell. 

 The Melons are beautifully coloured large shells, found in the seas 

 of the old world. The Melo Indicus has a certain resemblance to 

 a Melon. Fig. 435. M .JEthiopicus. 



MELONIA or MELONITES . A genus of microscopic Foraminifera. 



