76 



POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



Buccinum. Lin. — Shell rather oval ; spire and mouth 

 equal in length ; inner lip not flat, but 

 callous or toothed at the upper part ; aper- 

 ture notched ; shell slightly covered by an 

 epidermis ; operculum horny. Animal, 

 bulky ; head broad, depressed, bearing two 

 tentacula, somewhat flattened, set wide 

 apart, their tips subulate, their bases thick- 

 ened for half their length by the connate 

 sustentacula, which bear two rather small 

 eyes ; proboscis ample ; tongue armed with Bucc * Mm 

 teeth ranged three in a row, the axile one 

 broad and quadrate, with many crenations, the lateral 

 scythe-shaped, with denticulated bases.* — 118 species f ; 

 also fossil. 



These shells are found in all parts of the world ; Cap- 

 tain Parry even found two species, B. glaciale and 

 Sabinii, within the arctic circle : in many places, par- 

 ticularly in northern countries, the animals of the Buccinum 

 undatum (under the name of Whelks) form 

 an article of food. Besides the B. undatum 

 there are three other species found on the 

 British shores. The shells are not remarkable 

 for brilliant colours : but their great diversity 

 of form, delicacy of sculpture, and pencilled 

 markings, render them interesting. 



Bullia. Gray. (Buccinanops U Orb. ; 

 Leiodoma Sw.) — Shell turreted, spire more 

 or less pointed ; sutures sometimes impressed, 

 at others thickened or callous ; the inner £uU;a vittata . 

 lip also much thickened towards the upper 



* Forbes' British Moll. 



| Reeve's [conica ; this number, however, includes the genus Pollia. 



