LITTORINA. 



Fer. 



TESTA turbinata, spiralis, solidiiisciila, non- 

 nunquam tenuior; spira gradatim acuminata, 

 nonnunquam brevissima; apertura elliptica, 

 superne acutiuscula; peritremate acuto ; colu- 

 mella planiuscula; operculo corneo, spirali, 

 anfractibus paucis, rapidfe majoribus, nucleo 

 lateral i. 



Thk shells which have lately been combined together 

 iinder the generic appellation of lAttorina have been 

 hitherto arranged with the Turbines by Linneans and with 

 Turbo and Pliasianella by Lamarck ; from both of which 

 they are easily distinguished by their horny operculum ; 

 Littorina appears to be related in the same degree to 

 Phasianella as Trochus is to Turbo. 



As the name implies, the Littorinae are found on and 

 near the shore, where they may be seen in great abundance 

 feeding upon the sea-weed, and from whence they are 

 collected in great quantities for food. The common Peri- 

 winkle (Turbo littoreus auctorum) abounds on our own 

 shores and we have several other species : the shell deno- 

 minated Nerita littoralis by British authors, and which 

 we believe to be Turbo retusus of Lam. is another species 

 of this Genus very common on our shores. There are a 

 great number of species of this Genus, found in almost 

 all parts of the world: those of tropical climates are 

 thinner in general than those of the more northern lati- 

 tudes. 



Shell spiral, turbinated, sometimes almost turrited; 

 mostly thick and solid, sometimes rather thin 5 spire for 



