242 
ZOOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 
II. Proboscis retractile and inverted from tlie point. 
a. Lateral plates hook-sliaped ; Yelutmidce^ Naticacea, Cypraacea, Tri- 
viacea. 
h. No lateral plates : Marseniadce \_Coriocella\ 
III. Proboscis retractile and inverted from tbe base : Cassidea, JDoliacea, 
Ranellaceaj Tntoniacea^ Bycotypidce [^Ficula]. ^ 
The author gives the rank of families to all the groups enume- 
rated j hut we think that most of them may he conveniently 
regarded simply as genera^ and that the greater part of the 
sections distinguished hy a, b, &c. may form natur^ families. 
The present part of the work treats of the ToxoglossUy con- 
taining the families Conoidea, Terebracea, Cancellariacea, 
or the Lamarckian genera of the same namfe^. Halia priamus is, 
with some douhts, inserted as a distinct family between the 
Terebracea and Cancellariacea, the author referring to the in- 
vestigations of M. Fischer (Journ. Conchyl. 1858). Adniete is 
separated as a fifth family, Admetacea. The characters common 
to them ai’e : two rows of long subulate plates in the interior of 
the mouth, mostly convoluted and therefore hollow, acting as a 
conducting apparatus for a venomous fluid secreted by a peculiar 
gland, their base attached to a long filament which resists the 
action of caustic potash. No jaws. The dentition of thirty-five 
species has been examined and figured. 
Stimpson, W. On certain genera and families of Zoophagous 
Gastropods. Am. Journ. Conch, i. pp. 65-64, with two 
plates. 
Contains very valuable information, chiefly on the lingua 
dentition of some Muricidae and Buccinidce, and a new genus 
of Dentalidce, 
Order PECTINIBRANCHIATA. 
Suborder Proboscidifera. 
MuRICIDiE. 
Mr. W. Stimpson proposes to limit this family to the genera 
with a thick, solid rhachidian [median] tooth and only a single 
dentiform lobe on the lateral tooth, namely to Murex, Typhis, and 
Trophon, and to exclude Neptunea, Strombella, Clavella, Pisania, 
Pollia, Tritonidea, and Engina, which may form a subfamily, 
Neptuniince, in the family Buccinidce. The examination of the 
teeth shows that Coins belongs to the Easciolariidce. Ranella 
caudata (Say) and B. muriciformis (Brod.) are to be transferred 
to the Muricidce as a distinet genus, EupleurU, whieh name had 
been given by H. and A. Adams, who regarded them as a sub- 
genus of Bursa (Ranella). Also Fusus cinereus (Say) proves, by 
its dentition, to belong to the Muricidce ; Mr. Stimpson proposes 
