The Conchologist's First Book - free ebook by Thomas Brown

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The Conchologist's First Book

Thomas Brown

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THE CONCHOLOGIST’S FIRST BOOK: A SYSTEM OF TESTACEOUS MALACOLOGY, Arranged expressly for the use of Schools, IN WHICH THE ANIMALS, ACCORDING TO CUVIER, ARE GIVEN WITH THE SHELLS, A GREAT NUMBER OF NEW SPECIES ADDED, AND THE WHOLE BROUGHT UP, AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE, TO THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE SCIENCE.

THE CONCHOLOGIST’S FIRST BOOK: A SYSTEM OF TESTACEOUS MALACOLOGY, Arranged expressly for the use of Schools, IN WHICH THE ANIMALS, ACCORDING TO CUVIER, ARE GIVEN WITH THE SHELLS, A GREAT NUMBER OF NEW SPECIES ADDED, AND THE WHOLE BROUGHT UP, AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE, TO THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE SCIENCE.

Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1839, by Edgar A. Poe , in the clerk’s office for the eastern district of Pennsylvania....

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PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

The term “ Malacology ,” an abbreviation of “ Malacozoology ,” from the Greek μαλακος , soft , ζωον , an animal , and λογος , a discourse , was first employed by the French naturalist De Blainville to designate an important division of Natural History, in which the leading feature of the animals discussed was the softness of the flesh, or, to speak with greater accuracy, of the general envelop. This division comprehends not only the Mollusca , but also the Testacea of Aristotle and of Pliny, and

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PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

In issuing a second edition of this “Conchology,” in so very brief a period since the publication of the first large impression, the author has little more to do than to express the high pleasure with which he has seen his labors well received. The success of the work has been decided; and the entire design has been accomplished in its general introduction into schools. Many important alterations and additions are now made; errors of the press carefully corrected; many more recently discovered A

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INTRODUCTION.

INTRODUCTION.

The term “ Conchology ,” in its legitimate usage, is applied to that department of Natural History which has reference to animals with testaceous covering or shells. It is not unfrequently confounded with Crustaceology , but the distinction is obvious and radical, lying not more in the composition of the animal’s habitation, than in the organization of the animal itself. This latter, in the Crustacea , is of a fibrous nature, and has articulated limbs; the shell, strictly adapted to the members,

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MULTIVALVE.

MULTIVALVE.

A MULTIVALVE shell is composed of more parts than two. Every part of a shell which is connected by a cartilage, ligament, hinge, or tooth, is called a valve of such shell; thus, the Chitons have eight transverse, broad, but very short valves, placed on the back of the animal, and inserted at their sides into a marginal tough ligament. Plate I . fig. 11, a a a . Operculum consists of four small valves on the summit of the Lepas, which shut up the superior orifice; it is in a certain degree statio

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BIVALVE.

BIVALVE.

Bivalve shells consist of two parts or valves, connected by a cartilage, and a hinge which is generally composed of teeth; those of the one valve locking into a cavity in the other. The valves of some bivalve shells are formed exactly alike, and others are very different; the one being smooth, the other rugose; one flat and another convex; and often one is shorter than the other. The shells of the Mya, Solen, Tellina, Venus, and others, have in general both valves alike, while those of the Spond

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UNIVALVE.

UNIVALVE.

The shells called univalve, or those composed of one part only, are far more numerous than the two preceding, both in genera and species; and it requires a considerable degree of attention to discriminate many of the species , as they run into each other so much; and they are divested of the strong and distinct character afforded by the teeth of bivalves; besides many of the species there are several varieties. In the examination of shells of this order, the general contour or outline of the who

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DESCRIPTION OF PLATE IV. HINGES OF BIVALVE SHELLS.

DESCRIPTION OF PLATE IV. HINGES OF BIVALVE SHELLS.

Fig. 1. Hinge of the Unio pictorum, a Primary tooth, c c double teeth. Fig. 2. Hinge of the Solen . b Lateral teeth. Fig. 3. Hinge of the Lucina radula, a a Primary teeth, n cartilage. Fig. 4. Hinge of the Cardium . b Lateral tooth, d d middle teeth, l l spines. Fig. 5. Hinge of the Lutraria. Fig. 6. Inside of both valves of the Donax trunculus . A is the left valve, and B is the right valve, b lateral teeth, e primary complicated tooth, or cleft in the middle, m m crenulated margin. Fig. 7. Hin

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CLASSIFICATION.

CLASSIFICATION.

The American species are designated by a *. Pl. 1. Parts of Shells P.S. Duval, Lith. Phil a . Pl. 2. Parts of Shells. P.S. Duval, Lith. Phil a . Pl. 3. Parts of Shells. P.S. Duval, Lith. Phil a . Pl. 4. Hinges of Shells. P.S. Duval. Lith. Phil a . Pl. 5. 1. Siliquaria, 2 Dentalium, 3 Pectinaria, 4 Sabellaria, 5 Terebella, 6. Amphitrite, 7 Spirorbis, 8 Serpula, 9 Vermilia, 10 Galeolaria, 11. Magilus, 12. Tubicinella, 13. Coronula, 14. Balanus, 15 Acasta, 16 Creusia, 17 Pyrgoma, 18 Anatifera, 19 P

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FAMILY I. Dorsalia. Two Genera.

FAMILY I. Dorsalia. Two Genera.

Animal. The gills, or respiratory organs dorsal, or disposed lengthways on the body. Shell. Supposed to be tubular. One species. Arenicola piscatorium. Animal. See Arenicola. Shell very thin, conical, tubular, involuted in a spiral manner, loosely and irregularly; aperture circular, sharp edges, interrupted in the middle by a notch, extending like a slit through the greater portion of its length, and stopping abruptly at some distance from the summit. Inhabits the Indian seas. Eight species....

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FAMILY II. Maldania. Two Genera.

FAMILY II. Maldania. Two Genera.

Animal. Respiratory organs not determined, supposed to be at the posterior part of the body. Shell. Tube thin and slender, open at both ends, encrusted externally with sand and fragments of shells. One species. Clymene amphistoma. Animal. Body elongated, conical, sub-vermiform, enveloped in a fistula mantle as far as the anterior third, and ending in a bourrelet pierced in its middle by an orifice with fringed edges; foot altogether anterior, proboscidiform, terminated by a conical appendage, co

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FAMILY III. Amphitritæa. Four Genera.

FAMILY III. Amphitritæa. Four Genera.

Animal. Respiratory organs in general known, and disposed at or near the anterior part of the body; not separated or covered by an operculum. Shell. A membranous papyraceous tube in the form of a reversed cone; unfixed; exterior covered with sandy adhesions. Two species. Animal. But slightly differing from the Pectinaria. Shell. Tubes numerous, united in a common mass, composed of agglutinated particles of marine substances, cellular at the base; orifice expanded. Found in the Indian Ocean. Two

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FAMILY IV. Serpulacea. Five Genera.

FAMILY IV. Serpulacea. Five Genera.

Animal. Gills or respiratory organs separated or covered by an operculum. Shell. A testaceous tube turned spirally on a horizontal plane, the lower portion of which is attached to marine substances, generally fuci: opening of the tube terminal, rounded or angular. Found on Algæ on the British coast. Six species. Animal. Body tubular, elongated, depressed, and attenuated behind; segments numerous and narrow; small bundles of awl-shaped bristles in a single row on each side. Shell. A solid calcare

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FAMILY. Cirrhipeda. Ten Genera.

FAMILY. Cirrhipeda. Ten Genera.

Animal. Body inclosed in a shell, with small setaceous and unequal cirri. Shell. Univalve, operculated, tubular, erect, a little attenuated towards the base, bound with annular transverse ribs, truncated at both ends, open at the summit, and closed at the base with a membrane. Operculum with four obtuse valves. South American seas. One species. Animal. Body seated, enveloped in a shell with small setaceous and cirrous arms. Shell. Sessile, apparently indivisible, suborbicular, conoidal or blunt,

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FAMILY I. Tubicola. Six Genera.

FAMILY I. Tubicola. Six Genera.

Animal. Entirely unknown. Shell. Oval, somewhat elongated, striated longitudinally, conic, club-shaped, having two valves incrusted on one side of the club, open at its attenuated extremity, and terminated at the other by a convex disk, pierced by a number of small perforations, and encircled by a dilated margin of papyraceous tubes, resembling a plaited ruff—smaller extremity always open. This is a well known, but rare shell, found in sandy places in low water in the Indian ocean. Four species.

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FAMILY II. Pholadaria. Two Genera.

FAMILY II. Pholadaria. Two Genera.

Animal. Without a tubular sheath, projecting anteriorly into two united tubes, frequently surrounded by a common skin, and the posterior extremity provided with a short muscular foot, flattened at its extremity. Shell. Multivalve, equivalve, transverse, gaping at both ends, with various accessory pieces either on the hinge or below it. Inhabits the Indian seas and American shores. Eighteen species. Animal. Unknown. Always without accessory pieces, therefore easily distinguished from the Pholas.

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FAMILY III. Solenea. Four genera.

FAMILY III. Solenea. Four genera.

Animal. Body cylindroid, much elongated; the mantle in form of a canal open at both ends, closed in the rest of its extent by a thick epidermis which surrounds it; a cylindroid anterior foot. Shell. Equivalve, extremely inequilateral, the summits very small, and entirely at the commencement of the dorsal line; one or two teeth in the hinge. Inhabits the seas of America and Europe. Twenty-one species. The situation of the ligament, and the prominency of the apex, are the characters which distingu

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FAMILY IV. Myaria. Two genera.

FAMILY IV. Myaria. Two genera.

Animal. Subcylindrical, enveloped in a mantle pierced only with one interior and inferior hole for the passage of a very small and conical foot; the tubes very considerable, and completely united; a tolerably large mouth, oval, and with simple lips; very small labial appendages: branchial laminæ inconsiderable; the external very short, the internal united with that of the opposite side. Shell. Surrounded with a thick epidermis, which is prolonged upon the tubes and the edges of the mantle of the

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FAMILY V. Mactracea. Seven genera.

FAMILY V. Mactracea. Seven genera.

Animal. Body oval, much compressed, or subcylindrical; the mantle enclosed only in the half of its inferior side: foot small and projecting but little beyond the abdominal mass, tubes long, distinct or united. This genus is perfectly distinct from the Mactra, to which it formerly belonged, on account of its having no lateral teeth. It is called by De Blainville, Lutricola, from its being found very deep in mud or sand at the mouth of rivers. Shell. Oval or elongated, regular, equivalve, more or

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FAMILY VI. Corbulacea. Two genera.

FAMILY VI. Corbulacea. Two genera.

Shell. Tolerably solid, regular, inequivalve, inequilateral with a conical, flexed, ascending, primary tooth in each valve; a cavity at the side; no lateral teeth; ligament interior, placed in the cavities; two neighbouring muscular impressions. Inhabits the British and American seas. Ten species. Four fossil. Animal. Body much compressed, somewhat elongated, in form of a furrow, in consequence of the union of the edges of the mantle, and its continuation with the tubes, which are united and sho

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FAMILY VII. Lithophaga. Three genera.

FAMILY VII. Lithophaga. Three genera.

Animal. Long, subcylindrical, the mantle closed in all parts, prolonged behind by two long tubes, thick and close together externally, pierced interiorly and in front with a round orifice, for the passage of a very small foot; mouth very large; labial appendages small; branchial laminæ free, the external pair much shorter than the internal. Lamarck has thought proper to remove this genus from the Mytilus; it possesses the faculty, like the Pholas, of penetrating rocks and substances, and cannot

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FAMILY VIII. Nymphacea. Ten Genera.

FAMILY VIII. Nymphacea. Ten Genera.

This family is divided into N. Solenaria and N. Tellinaria, from their resemblance to the Solen and Tellina. N. Solenaria. Three genera. Animal. Unknown. Shell. Oval, compressed, a little elongated, gaping but little, equivalve, subequilateral, rounded at both extremities; no mark of posterior keel; summits feebly marked; hinge formed by one or two contiguous cardinal teeth upon each valve; ligament projecting, two round muscular impressions, distant and joined by a narrow palleal impression str

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FAMILY IX. Conchacea. Seven Genera.

FAMILY IX. Conchacea. Seven Genera.

This family is divided into Conchæ Marinæ , and Conchæ Fluviatiles . Animal. Body oval, thick; edges of the mantle simple; tubes short and united; foot wide, compressed at base, and terminated by a sort of leg or appendage. The shells of this genus are very small, found buried in the mud of fresh waters; summits never eroded, but some species are so thin as to be transparent. Shell. With an epidermis, oval, or suborbicular, regular, equivalved, inequilateral; summits obtuse, contiguous or turned

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FAMILY X. Cardiacea. Five Genera.

FAMILY X. Cardiacea. Five Genera.

Animal. Body somewhat inflated; mantle edged with tentacular cirri in all its inferior part; tubes united, of moderate size, and provided with cirri at the extremity; mouth transverse, very wide, with moderate labial appendages; foot very large, cylindrical, somewhat inclined anteriorly; branchiæ thick, rather small, especially the external laminæ: the internal united in all their extent. Shell. Inflated, equivalve, sub-cordiform (when viewed anteriorly, usually costated from the apex to the cir

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FAMILY XI. Arcacea. Four Genera.

FAMILY XI. Arcacea. Four Genera.

Animal. Body thick, slightly variable in form; abdomen provided with a pedunculated foot, compressed, fit for adhesion, and cleft throughout its extent; mantle supplied with a simple row of cirri and slightly prolonged posteriorly; buccal tentacula very small and very thin. Shell. Somewhat diversiform, but most usually elongated and more or less oblique at the posterior extremity, often very inequilateral; summits more or less distant and little flexed to the front; hinge anomalous, straight, or

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FAMILY XII. Trigonacea. Two genera.

FAMILY XII. Trigonacea. Two genera.

Animal. Entirely unknown. Shell. Subtrigonal or suborbicular, thick, regular, equivalve, inequilateral; summits but slightly prominent, little flexed, anterodorsal; hinge complex, dorsal, dissimilar; two thick oblong teeth joined angularly under the summit, strongly furrowed upon the right valve, penetrating into two excavations of the same form, also furrowed, in the left valve; ligament postapicial; two distinct muscular impressions, not united by a band. Inhabits the Australian seas. One livi

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FAMILY XIII. Naiadea. Four genera.

FAMILY XIII. Naiadea. Four genera.

Animal. See Castalia . Shell. Usually very thick, nacred within, covered with epidermis, corroded at the summits, which are dorsal and subanterior; dorsal hinge formed by a double precardinal tooth, more or less compressed, irregularly dentated on the left valve, and simple on the right, together with a long lamellous tooth under the ligament: ligament external, dorsal, and postapicial; two muscular impressions, well marked, besides those of the retractile muscles. The species of this genus grow

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FAMILY XIV. Chamacea. Three genera.

FAMILY XIV. Chamacea. Three genera.

Animal. Shell. Inequivalve, adherent; beaks conical, very large, diverging in irregular spiral contortions; hinge with a large, thick, concave, subauricular tooth in the larger prominent valve; two muscular impressions. One species. Fossil. Animal. Body suborbicular terminated superiorly by a sort of hook; mantle very slightly opened for the passage of a foot, terminated at its extremity by a part much narrower than the base; superior lobes of the branchiæ very short. Shell. Irregular, adhering,

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FAMILY XV. Tridacnea. Two genera.

FAMILY XV. Tridacnea. Two genera.

Animal. Body somewhat thick; edges inflated, lobes of the mantle adhering, and united in nearly all their circumference, so as to present but three apertures, the first inferior and anterior, for the egress of the foot; the second superior and posterior for the bronchial cavity, the third much smaller and in the middle of the dorsal edge; two pairs of labial appendages, thin, nearly filiform, in the middle of which is a very small buccal orifice; branchiæ long and narrow; abdominal muscular mass

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FAMILY XVI. Mytilacea. Three genera.

FAMILY XVI. Mytilacea. Three genera.

Animal. Body oval, somewhat inflated; mantle open in its inferior half only, and terminated posteriorly by an oval cleft with fringed edges; a linguiform, canaliculated, abdominal appendage, with a byssus at its base behind, and several pairs of retractile muscles; mouth with simple lips; two contractile muscles, of which the anterior is very small. Shell. Of a serrated tissue, elongated, more or less oval, sometimes subtriangular, equivalve, summits anterior, more or less curved, sloping inferi

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FAMILY XVII. Malleacea. Five genera.

FAMILY XVII. Malleacea. Five genera.

Animal. Unknown. Shell. Irregular, much flattened, subrhomboidal, subequivalve, gaping posteriorly; summit anterior; hinge longitudinal, dorsal, toothless; ligament submultiple, or inflated from place to place, and inserted in a series of round cavities corresponding with the dorsal edge; muscular impression unique and subcentral. Inhabits the Red Sea. Seven species. Animal. Body much compressed, the mantle prolonged posteriorly in a sort of lobe, and fringed at its inferior edge only; a byssus;

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FAMILY XVIII. Pectinea. Seven genera.

FAMILY XVIII. Pectinea. Seven genera.

Animal. Unknown, but probably byssiferous. Shell. Subtriangular, inequilateral, inequivalve, with rounded summits, freely marked, unequal and distant: the right valve inflated, widened at its inferior and posterior edge, sloped anteriorly, and subauriculated, the left not being so; hinge toothless, anterior or buccal; ligament inserted in an oblique cavity prolonged outwardly to the summits, and carried within into a spoon-like cavity. Inhabits the Indian Ocean. One species. Animal. Body moderat

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FAMILY XIX. Ostracea. Six genera.

FAMILY XIX. Ostracea. Six genera.

Animal. Body compressed, more or less orbicular; edges of the mantle thick, not adhering or retractile, and provided with a double row of short and numerous tentacular filaments; two pairs of elongated and triangular labial appendages; a subcentral bipartite muscle. Shell. Irregular, inequivalve, inequilateral, roughly foliaceous, the left or inferior valve adhering, larger and deeper than the other, its summit prolonged with age into a sort of heel; the right or superior valve more or less oper

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FAMILY XX. Brachiopoda. Three genera.

FAMILY XX. Brachiopoda. Three genera.

Animal. Body much compressed and rounded; mantle open throughout its whole circumference; two ciliated tentacular appendages. Shell. Orbicular, much compressed, inequilateral, very inequivalve; inferior valve very thin, adhering, imperforated, the superior patelloid, with the summit more or less inclined towards the posterior side. Inhabits the Norwegian seas. One living species. Two fossil. Animal. Depressed, circular or oval, more or less elongated, with two, long, pectinated, labial tentacula

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FAMILY I. Pteropoda. Six genera.

FAMILY I. Pteropoda. Six genera.

Some genera of this family are without a testaceous covering, mentioned only to preserve the family entire. Animal. Body enclosed in a shell, winged before, two opposite wings, somewhat retractile, inserted at the sides of the mouth, head distinct, mouth terminal, placed at the junction of the fins; without eyes. Shell. Symmetrical, very thin and transparent, valves unequal, flat above, convex below, open like a cleft anteriorly, summit truncated and tridentated posteriorly. Inhabits the Mediter

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FAMILY II. Phyllidiacea. Six genera.

FAMILY II. Phyllidiacea. Six genera.

A mollusca similar to the preceding genus, without a shell, but its back covered with a rough or coriaceous skin. Inhabits the Mediterranean. Three species. Animal. Body creeping, elongated; middle of the back provided its entire length with a detached, multivalve shell; the alternate pieces for the most part longitudinal; sides naked; branchiæ disposed around the body; foot cleft longitudinally by a deep furrow. Shell. Each valve with striæ radiating from its apex; the margins serrated; the bas

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FAMILY III. Calyptracea. Seven genera.

FAMILY III. Calyptracea. Seven genera.

Animal. Body creeping, thick, oblong-ovate, broad behind, obtuse at the extremities; border of the mantle cleft before, and suspended vertically around; head distinct, and slit below; two conical contracted tentacula, at the base of which are placed the eyes, which are somewhat pedunculated; mouth below, funnel-shaped, oblique, truncated, and concealed; branchial cavity opening anteriorly behind the head by a transverse fissure. Shell. Oblong, very depressed, slightly convex above, obtuse at ext

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FAMILY IV. Bullacea. Three genera.

FAMILY IV. Bullacea. Three genera.

Animal. Body ovate, convex, transversely divided above into two parts; the foot with dilations in the form of wings below; head indistinct; branchiæ situated on the back, greatly behind, and covered by a mantle destitute of a shell. Inhabits the Mediterranean. One species. Animal. Body ovate, somewhat convex above, and divided into two parts transversely; lateral lobes of the foot very thick; head indistinct, and without tentacula; branchiæ placed on the back. Shell. Concealed in the mantle, ver

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FAMILY V. Aplysiacea. Two genera.

FAMILY V. Aplysiacea. Two genera.

Animal. Body creeping, oblong, narrowed in front; and posteriorly widened; area round, sloping, and truncated obliquely; margins folded over the back; four tubular tentacula, disposed in pairs; bronchial operculum inclosing a shell; orifice dorsal, near the branchiæ. Shell. Oblong, slightly arcuated, thick, callous, and somewhat spiral on both sides, singular in formation, and its characteristic unlike most other shells. Inhabits the Isle of France. Two species. Animal. Body creeping, oblong, co

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FAMILY VI. Limacina. Five genera.

FAMILY VI. Limacina. Five genera.

Animal. Cuvier merely mentions that the animal is “furnished with a coriaceous, subrogose shield, with a flat, longitudinal disk beneath; four tentacula retractile, eyes at the tips; orifice for respiration on the right side.” Shell. Ovate oblong, both margins reflected; very thin, diaphanous, slightly wrinkled, of a pale yellow colour. Inhabits the gardens in Britain and France. Five species. Animal. Body creeping, elongated, snail shaped, nearly straight; posteriorly separated from the foot, a

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FAMILY VII. Colimacea. Eleven genera.

FAMILY VII. Colimacea. Eleven genera.

Animal. Of a slightly variable form, the mantle forming at its free edge a kind of ring or thick collar, especially in front, and faintly divided into two lips; foot oval, plane, smooth beneath, inflated and granular below, joined to the visceral club by a narrow peduncle; head sufficiently distinct; anterior tentacula very evident and inflated at top, the posterior very long; the mouth a vertical cleft provided with two labial lobes, a sort of marginal tooth, with a small, oval, lingual club. S

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FAMILY VIII. Lymnacea. Three genera.

FAMILY VIII. Lymnacea. Three genera.

Shell. Aquatic, oval, sometimes turreted; spire produced, thin, smooth, edges disunited, the left with a very oblique plait rising on the columella, forming an oval aperture, destitute of an operculum. Inhabits the ponds of America and Europe. Thirty-three species. Shell. General sinistral, oval, oblong, or globular, very smooth, spire prominent, aperture oval, contracted posteriorly, right edge sharp, columella twisting obliquely, and enlarging to join itself to the anterior part of the margin,

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FAMILY IX. Melaniana. Three genera.

FAMILY IX. Melaniana. Three genera.

Shell. Turreted; aperture entire, spire slightly pointed, margin of the whorls often surmounted by spires, columella smooth and arched, closed by a thin horn-like operculum; this is a fluviatile shell, often covered by a thick epidermis. Inhabits the rivers of India. Many fine species are found in America. Fifty-four species. Animal. Much elongated, mantle prolonged into a canal at the left side, but without distinct tube; foot short, oval, with an anterior marginal furrow; head terminated by a

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FAMILY X. Peristomiana. Three genera.

FAMILY X. Peristomiana. Three genera.

Animal. See Helix. Shell. Found only in fresh water; subdiscoid or conoid, umbilicated, spiral, whorls, rounded; angular at the summit; aperture round, not modified by the penultimate whorl; the margins sharp and united; operculum orbicular and horny. Inhabits the rivers of Europe and America. Three species. Shell. Generally found in fresh water, though some species have been found where it is salt; conoid covered with a greenish epidermis; the whorls rounded or convex, spiral cavity modified by

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FAMILY XI. Neritacea. Four genera.

FAMILY XI. Neritacea. Four genera.

Animal. Globular; foot circular, thick, without a furrow anteriorly, or a lobe for the operculum posteriorly, with a bipartite columellar muscle; conical tentacula; eyes subpedunculate at their external side; mouth without labial tooth, but with a denticulated tongue prolonged into the visceral cavity; a single large pectiniform branchia. Shell. This genus was formerly classed with the Nerita, which in form it much resembles, but from the circumstance of the latter inhabiting the sea, and Neriti

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FAMILY XII. Janthinea. One genus.

FAMILY XII. Janthinea. One genus.

Animal. Of oval form, spiral, provided with a circular concave foot, accompanied with a vesicular subcartilaginous mass, and natatory appendages on each side; head very thick; tentacula scarcely at all contractile; eyes situated beneath the extremity of long peduncles placed at the external side of the tentacula, and appearing to form a part of them; mouth at the extremity of a very thick proboscidiform muzzle, between two vertical, subcartilaginous lips furnished with sharp spines. Shell. Of a

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FAMILY XIII. Macrostomiana. Four genera.

FAMILY XIII. Macrostomiana. Four genera.

Animal. Body oval, flat beneath; edges of the mantle vertical, thin, extending beyond the body in all directions, sloped anteriorly; the mantle itself dilated superiorly. Shell. More or less thick, internal, without colour, much depressed, with a short, low, lateral spire; left edge of the aperture trenchant; two lateral muscular impressions very distant. Inhabits the Indian Ocean. Two species are found in S. America. Six species. Animal. Unknown. Shell. Distinguished from the Stomatia by being

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FAMILY XIV. Plicacea. Two genera.

FAMILY XIV. Plicacea. Two genera.

Animal. Body oval, subspiral; foot divided into two heels by a wide transverse furrow; head provided with two vertical cylindrical tentacula, having the eyes placed sessilely upon their interior side. Shell. Convolute, oval, cylindrical, mostly striated transversely; no epidermis; spire very short, last whorl much larger than all the others together; one or two large plaits on the columella. Inhabits the coast of Britain. Six species. Animal. As preceding genus. Shell. Smooth and turreted, witho

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FAMILY XV. Scalarina. Three genera.

FAMILY XV. Scalarina. Three genera.

Animal. Spiral; foot short, oval, and inserted beneath the neck; two tentacula terminated by a filament, and having the eyes at the extremity of the dilated portion; a proboscis. Shell. Marine, aperture circular, spire more or less pressed and furnished with longitudinal ribs, formed by the preservation of the reflected margin of the aperture; edges united, thickened, and outwardly reflected; operculum horny and thin. Inhabits the American and Indian seas. Fourteen living species, and three foss

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FAMILY XVI. Turbinacea. Eight genera.

FAMILY XVI. Turbinacea. Eight genera.

Animal. Unknown. Shell. Orbicular, depressed, umbilicus large and conical, crenulated or dentated on the inner margin of the whorls; aperture not modified by the last whorl of the spire, which is entirely flat; no columella. Inhabits the Indian seas. Seven living species. E. fossil. Animal. Spiral, having the sides of the body often ornamented with digitated or lobed appendages, and provided with a short foot, rounded at its two extremities; head provided with two tentacula more or less elongate

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FAMILY XVII. Canalifera. Eleven genera.

FAMILY XVII. Canalifera. Eleven genera.

Animal. Much elongated; the mantle prolonged into a canal at its left side, but without a distinct tube; the foot short, oval, with an anterior marginal furrow; the head terminated by a depressed proboscidiform muzzle. Shell. More or less turriculated and tuberculous; aperture small, oval, and oblique; the columellar edge much excavated and callous, the right edge trenchant, and slightly dilating with age. Operculum horny, oval, round, subspiral, and striated, upon the external face. They are fo

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FAMILY XVIII. Alata. Three genera.

FAMILY XVIII. Alata. Three genera.

Animal. Entirely unknown. Shell. Subdepressed, turriculated, with a produced and pointed spire; aperture oval on account of a rather large excavation of the columellar edge, the right margin dilating with age and having a sinus contiguous to the pointed canal which terminates the shell; an operculum. This genus is distinguished from the Strombus by having a sinus in the lower part of the right margin contiguous to the canal. Inhabits the European seas; four living species. Three fossil. Animal.

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FAMILY XIX. Purpurifera. Eleven genera.

FAMILY XIX. Purpurifera. Eleven genera.

Animal. Somewhat elongated, widened anteriorly; mantle with simple edges and provided with a distinct tube; foot very wide, elliptical, sub-biolate anteriorly, and having a large operculum upon the dorsal face of its posterior part; head wide and indistinct; tentacula anterior, approximating at base, subcylindrical, and having the eyes at two-thirds of their length; mouth inferior, concealed by the foot; two pectiniform branchiæ, nearly parallel. Shell. Subglobular, tuberculated or channeled, wi

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FAMILY XX. Columellaria. Five genera.

FAMILY XX. Columellaria. Five genera.

Animal. Imperfectly known; eyes placed much below the middle of the tentacula. Shell. Thick, turbinated, with a short obtuse spire; aperture narrow, elongated and terminated by a very short canal, narrowed by an inflation at the inner side of the right edge, and by some folds on the columella; a very small horny operculum. Inhabits the Indian and American seas. Twenty species. Animal. Entirely unknown. Shell. Turriculated, subfusiform and oval; spire always pointed at the summit; aperture small,

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FAMILY XXI. Convoluta. Six genera.

FAMILY XXI. Convoluta. Six genera.

Animal. Oval, elongated, involute; head provided with two very long conical tentacula; eyes at the extremity of an inflation which forms a part of them; a transverse buccal orifice at the extremity of a kind of cavity, at the bottom of which is the true mouth between two thick vertical lips; a lingual band, bristled with small teeth, and prolonged into the abdomen. Shell. Oval, convex, very smooth, involute; spire entirely posterior, very small, often concealed by a calcareous layer deposited by

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FAMILY XXII. Nautilacea. Two genera.

FAMILY XXII. Nautilacea. Two genera.

Animal. Body elongated, cylindrical, terminated posteriorly by two lateral lobes partially concealing the shell; head provided with five pairs of tentacula, of which two are longer than the others. Shell. Very symmetrical, longitudinally twisted throughout nearly all its extent; the cone spiral, conical, regular, circular; whorls of the spire very evident; partitions simple, concave, and pierced by a single syphon. Inhabits the West Indian seas. One species. Animal. Body round and terminated pos

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FAMILY XXIII. Heteropoda. Two genera.

FAMILY XXIII. Heteropoda. Two genera.

Animal. Body conical, elongated, enrolled longitudinally, widened anteriorly, and provided on each side with an arcuated subtriangular, aliform appendage; mouth at the extremity of the angle formed by two inferior lips. De Blainville denies that this animal is at all known, and speaks of one described by M. Oken as a small polypus of the genus Ocythoe. Shell. Navicular, symmetrical, very thin, compressed, bicarinated, longitudinally subinvolute in the same plane; aperture very wide, symmetrical,

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN CONCHOLOGY.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN CONCHOLOGY.

Abbreviated, cut short. Abdomen, the belly. Acuminated, sharp pointed. Aculeated, prickly. Alated, winged. Annulated, divided into rings. Annulations, rings. Aperture, the orifice or opening of the shell. Apex, the point of the spire. Approximating, approaching together. Arcuated, of an arch form. Area, surface between the lines. Articulations, junctures or joints. Attenuated, thin, slender. Aurated, having ears, as the Pecten. Auricled, having ear-like appendages. Auriform, ear-shaped. Barbed,

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