PLATE LXVII. 



We have every reason to believe that the species of Voluta 

 now before us must be entirely a new shell, at least we have not 

 hitherto met with a figure or description of it in the work of 

 any author. The native place of this shell is not known with 

 sufficient accuracy to enable us to speak on this point with much 

 precision, it is believed to have been brought from the vicinity of the 

 straits of Magellan. It is by no means a recent acquisition, 

 having been many years in this country, but from the circumstance 

 of having been treasured in a private cabinet it has hitherto remained 

 unknown. 



This curious shell, which is represented in its natural size in the 

 annexed plate, it will be perceived is one of considerable magnitude. 

 The colour is whitish, glossy, and to the touch resembles porcelain ; 

 externally the shell is slightly rugose, or wrinkled in a longitudinal 

 direction, and is also rather thick and heavy ; within, the colour is 

 orange, darkest towards the exterior lip, which is rather thick ; the 

 pillar lip effuse. This pillar is besides remarkable for having only 

 two plaits or folds, a circumstance very far from usual, though not 

 entirely without example in the Voluta tribe. In Voluta Magellanica, 

 to which species some collectors who have seen the present shell have 

 imagined they perceived a near affinity, there are four, or perhaps 

 sometimes five plaits upon the pillar lip instead of two, and it besides 

 differs materially in being more ovate and having the spire con- 

 siderably shorter. There are some indications in the appearance of 

 our shell of its having suffered injury from the attrition of the 

 waves upon a rocky coast or beach of the sea, but had the shell been 

 less perfect, we should have deemed it a novelty of sufficient interest 

 to merit the knowledge of the scientific naturalist. 



