TORNATELLA 



TESTA ovalis vel oblonga, plerumque traiis- 

 versim sulcata, interdiim laevissima, spira brevi 

 obtusiuseula, raro aclmodum acuta; apertura 

 longitudinali, elongata, superne acuta, infra 

 subelFusa; lahio externo siniplice, acuto; in- 

 terno tenui, ieviter expanse ; columella spirali, 

 incrassata, in labium externum ad basim de- 

 sinente. 



A FEW, mostly elegant, small shells, appear under the 

 appellation of Tornatella^ to form a very natural Genus, 

 nearly related to Pyramidella^ hut sufficiently distinguished 

 in several particulars. The shells of which we here 

 speak, have been associated Avitli the Volutce by Linneans, 

 on account of tlie fold or folds at the hase of the inner lip j 

 and by later authors they have been united with certain 

 land shells, (also Linuean Volutce), under the generic 

 name of Auricula. Brugniere united the Genus to many 

 other shells of very different characters in his Bulimus, 

 hut we believe De Montfort separated it from them all, 

 under the name we have adopted after Lamarck and 

 others. After describing Tornatella, we shall proceed to 

 show how it is to be distinguished from other genera 

 to which it either bears a resemblance or has been united. 

 Our principal difficulty is to decide upon the propriety of 

 uniting to it the singular little shell called Pedipes by 

 Adanson, an union adopted by Lamarck, but which upon 

 consideration we think unwarranted. Several other 

 minute shells which have been commonly known by the 

 name of Auricula ringens, although all undoubtedly ma- 

 rine shells, and quite distinct from the true Auriculce, 

 must also be distinguished, they having a decided notch 

 at the base of the aperture. 



