CLASS GASTROPODA 
265 
Alectrion mendicus Gould, 1849 
Plate 26, figs. 6, 14 
Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, 3:155. Mpllusca and Shells of 
the United States Exploring Expedition; PI. 19, fig. 331. 
Shell small, rather light, elongated, ovate-turreted, dull brown, becom¬ 
ing ash-colored when dry, longitudinally undate-plicate, spirally encircled 
with raised threads, with equal interspaces, about seven on the penulti¬ 
mate whorl, the depressed portions darker than the raised. Spire elongate- 
conic, this form Being continued nearly to the base. Whorls six or seven 
convex, the last a little more than half the length of the shell, ellipsoidal; 
constriction around the siphonal canal well-impressed; this groove broad, 
short, a little reflexed and somewhat contorted. Aperture small, not more 
than one-third the length of the shell, rounded-ovate; lip sharp and simple, 
having a series of about ten laminae within, not reaching the edge; pillar 
strongly arched, smooth, slightly invested with an ivory callus, the point 
projecting as far as the lip does anteriorly; fauces white, the siphonal 
notch tinted salmon-colored. Length, 4/5; breadth, 2/5 in. (Gould.) 
Type in Boston Society of Natural History. Type locality, Nisqually, 
Port Discovery, Puget Sound. 
Range. Kodiak Island, Alaska, to Magdalena Bay, Lower California. 
Alectrion cooperi Forbes, 1850 
Plate 26, fig. 8 
Proceedings, Zoological Society of London, 273; PI. 11, fig. 4. 
N. testa lanceolata, turrita, crassa, anfractibus 6, convexiusculis, spira- 
liter sulcato-striatis, longitudinaliter 8 costata; costis distantibus, fortibus, 
distinctis; anfractu ultimo longitudinis testae aequante, apertura ovata, 
canali brevi; labro externo crasso, simplici; labro columellari reflexo, 
albo; cauda alba; anfractibus fuscis, obscure albo-fasciatis. (Forbes.) 
This is typically very distinct from N. mendica with its seven or 
eight distant prominent shouldered ribs, but specimens are not rare which, 
commencing with the numerous ribs of N. mendica, suppress alternate 
ones and increase the prominence of those remaining on the body-whorl. 
There are also specimens intermediate in form and number of longitudinal 
ribs and even some in which the ribs are obsolete on the body-whorl. 
As it is generally recognized as a distinct species, it may be convenient 
to retain its name as a variety. (Tryon, Manual of Conchology.) 
Type in British Museum? Type locality, said to be Sandwich Islands, 
but it may have been a ballast shell. 
Range. Puget Sound to San Diego, California. 
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