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or oblong, and spread out at the base of the columella, which is 
smooth. 
The shells of this somewhat resemble those of the preceding genus ; 
but are easily distinguished from them by the widening at their base, 
and by the columella being smooth. 
I do not know of any English fossil of this genus ; but they 
appear to be frequent in the environs of France ; since Lamarck 
enumerates and describes twelve species : M. costellata, M. lactea, 
M. marginata, M. hordacea, M. canicular is, M. corrugata , M. semi- 
placata, M. nitida, M. semistriata , M. cochlearella, M. fragilis, M. 
dubia. 
M. marginata, represented Plate Y. Fig. 9, judging from the spe- 
cimens in my possession, exists in a very unimpaired state. 
LIII. Auricula. An ovate or oblong pyramidal univalve, with the 
spire extruded : the opening entire, oblong, and narrowed upwards ; 
the columella plicated, with different plicae in the opposite lip. 
Those volutes of Linnaeus, which are not notched at their base, 
Bruguiere, without considering their plicae, placed under the genus 
Bulimus. Lamarck has, with great propriety, placed those shells 
whose openings are entire, but whose columellae are plicated, under 
this genus, Auricula. 
One of the most interesting shells of this genus, is Auricula ringens, 
Lam. acutely ovate, rather turgid, transversely ribbed, with minute 
longitudinal striae, the edges of the opening thick and bordered, the 
right lip dentated, and the columella with three plicae. This shell is 
found at Grignon, and in the neighbourhood of Bourdeaux. The 
specimen which is represented Plate Y. Fig. 4, and which appears to 
be A. ringens, is nearly transparent. It is one of those extraordinary 
silicious fossils which are yielded by the Blackdown whetstone -pits, 
and for a supply of which I am under great obligations to R. H. 
Clarke, Esq. of Bridwell, and the Rev. J. R- Cleeve, of Kentisbeare, 
who have kindly assisted me with the interesting fossils of their re- 
spective neighbourhoods, 
