Gasteuopoda. MOLLUSCA. Mukicidaj. 325 
the eyes, tentacula, and operculum of the animal are 
very distinct, and the little shell which is of a uniform 
flesh colour has three or four whirls, and is fully four 
lines in length. 
The shells of the two large genera just described, 
Murex and Fusus, have their canal and the siphon of 
the animal produced, and the species are often very 
large and bear amongst themselves a general resem- 
blance; there are others, however, which are for the 
most part of small size, have the siphon of the animal 
recurved, and the canal of the shell very short and 
recurved, or reduced to a notch. A great many of the 
species belonging to this group have been described by 
authors as a species of Buccinum. The structure of the 
animals, however, their dentition, and the form of the 
operculum, are sufficient to remove them from the 
Buccinidoe, and connect them intimately with the large 
family Murlcidoe. 
Genus Pisania. — In this genus the shells are ovate 
and furnished with rudimentary varices, and have an 
ovate mouth, the inner lip with a few slight plaits in 
front, and the outer lip crenulated. The spire is conic, 
generally waved by the indistinct varices, and the 
ovate, acute operculum has the edge entire. The 
species of Pisania are numerous, upwards of one 
hundred recent shells having been referred to it, natives 
of the warm seas of the West Indies, Africa, India, the 
Philippine islands, and those in the south seas, Western 
America, &c. 
Genus Columbella. — The shells of this genus are 
small, obovate or fusiform, have a long, narrow aperture, 
and the outer lip always thickened, especially towards 
the middle of its length. The inner lip is crenulated, 
the canal very short and curved, and the whole shell is 
generally covered with a thick epidermis. In the true 
Columhellce the operculum is ovate, acute, with the 
nucleus apical and sub-acute, and the edge entire ; but 
in many species which have generally been described 
as belonging to this genus, this appendage is like that 
of the Purpuroe, or ovate, with the nucleus on the 
middle of the outer edge. These form the genus 
Nitidella and are now placed amongst the Buccinidoe. 
I'he Columbella are all marine shells, prettily marked, 
and are found upon rocks or congregating about stones 
in shallow water. They are generally found abundantly 
upon the fuci which cover the rocks, attracted there 
no doubt by the numerous animals that take shelter 
amongst the leaves of these marine plants. The recent 
species of Columbella and Nitidella which have been 
described, amount to nearly two hundred ; they inhabit 
the Mediterranean, the seas of the West Indies, India, 
California, and the Gallapagos islands. The genera 
Latrunculus and Cominella are two others of the shoi t 
canal group. 
Genus Latkunculus. — The species of this genus 
were formerly described as Eburnce. This latter genus 
is now, however, restricted to those highly polished 
shells, which like Ancillaria, have their surface covered 
with an enamel coat, and will be found like that genus 
among the Olividee. In Latrunculus the shell is ovate, 
and the whirls smooth and flattened behind, and 
generally covered with a thin brown epidermis. The 
animals, as observed by Mr. A. Adams during the 
voyage of the Samarang, are deliberate in their move- 
ments, thrusting out their tentacula and crawling along 
with a slow and measured pace. They are l apld, how- 
ever, and quick, when alarmed, in perceiving their 
enemy, and immediately retract their soft parts within 
the shell. Living Latrunculi are very common in the 
China Sea. “ They generally live in a muddy bottom 
and in about fourteen fathoms of water. The Chinese 
ffshermen along the coast frequently bring them up in 
their nets together with several crustaceans; and I 
have seen them carefully set them apart in the stern of 
their craft, as if for the purpose of being eaten.” — 
{Adams!) 
Genus Cominella. — In this genus the shell is 
smooth, withoiit rudimentary varices ; like that ot the 
genus Buccinum (bucciniform) in shape. The spire is 
short and acute, the last whirl large and ventricose, 
sometimes irregular, and covered with an epidermis. 
The species have usually been confounded with 
Buccinum and Purpura. The operculum, however, 
which is ovate, acute, with the nucleus sub-apical, will 
distinguish them from both of these genera. 
The two genera, Bullia and Nassa, have the short 
canal and siphon of these three last mentioned genera, 
but the ovate, acute, operculum with its apical nucleus, 
is remarkable from its being serrated on the outer edge. 
The foot of the animal in both of them is nicked or 
bifid behind. 
Genus Bullia. — In Bullia the foot of the animal 
is large, square shaped and expanded ; the tentacles 
are long and slender, but the creature is totally desti- 
tute of eyes. The shell is ovate or turreted, the whirls 
smooth, and the aperture oval. It is particularly 
characterized by having a raised band of enamel round 
the sutures of the whirls, which is formed by the hinder 
part of the inner lip of the shell extending beyond the 
mouth. According to the observations of M. Quoy, 
the animal of the Bullias has the faculty of absorbing 
through the pores of its foot, a great quantity of water, 
which it ejects when disturbed in various directions ; 
it is caught by baiting lines with bits of flesh. The 
species are few in number, and are for the most part 
natives of Africa. 
Genus Nassa. — In Nassa the foot is moderate, 
truncated and tentaculated in front, and bifurcated at 
its posterior extremity. The eyes are distinct and are 
placed on the middle of the tentacles. The shell is 
ovate, with a short spire, and convex, waved, rarely 
variced whirls. The species are numerous, world-wide 
in their distribution, and are found from low water to 
fifty fathoms. They are extremely active and vivacious 
in their movements, and are very destructive to small 
bivalves, through whose shell they drill small holes to 
enable them to reach the inhabitants. The egg cases or 
vesicles are small, ovate, acute, and are found attached 
in rows to sea-weeds, corallines, &c. 
Genus Phos. — This genus contains a considerable 
number of species, which in their shell resemble Nassce. 
The shell is cancellated, of an ovate form or turreted, 
and the outer lip is striated internally with a slight sinus 
near the canal. The animals differ in having the hind 
part of the foot ending in a tapering filament instead of 
being bifurcated, and the operculum is ovate, with a 
