قراءة كتاب Zoological Illustrations, Second Series, Volume 2 or, Original Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, or Interesting Animals
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Zoological Illustrations, Second Series, Volume 2 or, Original Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, or Interesting Animals
class="sc">Generic Character.
Spiral whorls regularly and gradually diminishing towards the apex, which is always acute. Plaits of the pillar numerous, always indistinct, generally evanescent, and sometimes wanting. Nobis.
Type, Voluta musicalis? Lam.
Specific Character.
Shell nearly fusiform, the base narrow and smooth; the upper part with longitudinal, subcostated, spinous plaits: inner lip thickened, the last plait on the pillar very thick, and separated from the others, which are slender, and nearly obsolete, by a deep groove.
Voluta Muricina. Lam. Syst. 7, 1, 350. Ency. Meth. pl. 383. f. 1.
The fourth principal division of the Lamarkian Volutes has hitherto been found only in a fossil state; unless, indeed, the Voluta Braziliana really belongs to this type. The species are very numerous, both in the London clay, and the Calcaire grossier of Grignon. They offer some beautiful types of form, representing the conterminous groups in this family, some of which we may hereafter notice more particularly. The pre-eminent type may probably be the V. musicalis of Lamarck; as yet, we only know this fossil from descriptions and figures, but it has obviously been confounded with several others.
Lamarck has given a character so exquisitely finished of V. muricina, that we have done little more than translate his words. Our specimen appears to be from Grignon, and was furnished to us with the following, by Messrs. Stuchbury, 33, Theobald's Road, Bedford Row.
VOLUTILITHES pertusa.
Shell subfusiform, and the base striated; the upper part with thick, remote, and somewhat nodulous ribs; traversed near the suture with lines of punctured striæ; inner lip thickened, plaits on the pillar distinct, the last very strong, the two next smaller, and the upper very slender.
This species is certainly undescribed by Lamarck, nor do we find it in Dr. Fleming's useful compendium of the "Mineral Conchology." Our specimen has the grey tinge of the London clay fossils. Neither of these species are typical; as they represent the recent costated Volutes, in the adjoining group.
MITRANÆ. Pl. 6.
1. Mitrella fusca. 2. ocellata. 3. olivæformis.
MITRELLA fusca.
Family Volutidæ. Sub-family Mitriana. Nob.
Generic Character.
Shell smooth, polished, sub-fusiform, the base obtuse and effuse; the plaits of the pillar oblique, and extending far beyond the aperture; outer lip internally smooth, the margin entire. Nobis.
Types of form.
1. M. fissuella. 2. casta. bicolor. 3. Olivæformis.
Specific Character.
Shell entirely brown, marked by bands of punctured dots; spire and aperture nearly equal.
The natural situation of this group, in its own circle of affinity, has already been shewn; it connects, in the most satisfactory manner, the genus Mitra, as now restricted, with that of Conohelix, and opens at the same time a passage to the Olives. The species yet discovered are few, and hence we yet can only trace three types of form; the first evidently representing Mitra, and the third, probably, typifying Conohelix. M. Olivaria Lam., which truly belongs to this genus, may, perhaps, be only a modification of the 2nd type, to which our present species strictly belongs. The representation of this group among the Volutes, will be found in Voluta Zebra and its allies.
Mitrella fusca is small, and of great rarity; our own specimen, beautifully perfect, is the only one we have yet seen.
MITRELLA ocellata.
Shell whiteish, the lower half of the principal whorl brown, with a band of alternate rufous and white spots, and marked with reticulated white lines, and remote sulcated striæ, internally punctured; spire, and upper part of the body whorl, delicately plaited, the plates crossed by transverse lines of excavated dots.
This species has probably been overlooked as a variety of M. Fissurella; its markings, indeed, are partially the same, but its sculpture, and even its form, proves it to be distinct. The alternate white and rufous spots bear a fanciful resemblance to eyes. The description of M. Olivæformis has already been given at Pl. 48, in the first volume of our former Series.
MARGARITADÆ Pl. 1
Margarita crocata.
MARGARITA crocata.
Orange Pearl-Oyster.
Order Acephala. Family Margaritadæ. Nob.
Margaritadæ. Animal byssiferous, attached to marine bodies by a fascicle of tendinous filaments. Shell foliaceous, the centre internally pearly and iridescent: the form irregular; the margins fragile and transparent. Nob.
Genera. Margarita. Malleus. Perna. Pinna. (Vulsella?) Lam.
Sub-genera? Avicula. Crenatula. Inoceramus. Auct.
Generic Character.
