D o l i u m , Lamarck. 
Gen. Char. A thin, subglobose, univalved 
shell, transversely banded; spire short; 
aperture longitudinal with a notched base, 
and crenated or waved sharp lip. 
The shells that compose this genus have, from their 
general resemblance to each other, been long con- 
sidered as a peculiar tribe ; we are indebted to Lamarck 
for their separation from Buccinum, to which Linnaeus 
referred them. They have usually a subglobose form, 
although some are elongated and ventricose ; the 
columella is generally curved, and has a small, some- 
times open umbilicus ; the base is very slightly pro- 
duced and truncated, so as to form a sinus, but not a 
beak to the large aperture; they have a thin horny 
epidermis, that when perfect conceals a marbled or 
spotted surface, whose colors are but few, and not 
brilliant. The transverse bands are answered by fur- 
rows within the shell, and hence the lip is crenated or 
undulated through its whole length. 
The species are marine and not numerous, only one 
and that an uncertain one, has been found in a fossil 
5tate. 
