VOLUTA. 



TESTA subovata, coloribus plerumque variis 

 eximie picta. Apex papillaris. Columella 

 plieata, plicis inferioribus maximis, basi emar- 

 ginata. Epidermis tenuis, fusea. 



Animal carnivorum. Caput tentaculis 2 in- 

 structum. Oculi ad tentaeulorum basin ex- 

 ternam appositi. Pes maximus. Opereulo 

 caret.* 



Habitat mariniim in ealidioribus mundi ve- 

 teris regionibus, rarior in Indis oecidentalibus. 



Shell inclining to oval, elegant in form, and, in the ma- 

 jority of species, beautifully pencilled with variegated 

 colours. Apex of the spire papillary, more solid than that 

 of Melo. Pillar plaited, (the lowest plaits being the largest, 

 and most oblique,) and notched at the base. Epidermis 

 thin, varying from greenish to brown. 



Animal carnivorous. The head furnished with two 

 tentacula, at the external bases of which are the eyes. 

 Foot very large. No operculum. 



Inhabits the seas of the warm countries of the old 

 world; and is found, but much more rarely, in those of 

 the new. 



There is reason to believe that the genera Cymha, 

 Melo and Voluta are viviparous. Fossil species of the 

 latter genus occur, above the chalk, in the crag^ in the 

 London clay and in the calcaire grossier at Grignon, 

 Courtagnon, &c. In the chalk no trace of the genus 

 has, I helieve, been noticed: and, helow the chalk, it 

 appears to have been only observed in the Cornbrash.f 



* I have had no opportunity of examining the soft parts of a Voluta, but 

 the gradations from the shell of Melo to that of Voluta are sa gentle, that 

 I have little hesitation in giving the above as the leading characters of tW 

 animal. 



t See Conybeare and Phillips, part 1, p. 210. 



