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 Neritinæ fresh water, it now forms a separate genus. Thin, smooth, or finely striated, in all the species known, the right side of the aperture does not possess any crenulations or teeth; the operculum is provided with a lateral tooth on one side. Some species are armed with spines; aperture semicircular; left margin smooth and sharp; spire imperfect, generally dissolved by the animal. Inhabits the fresh water rivers of Europe. Twenty-seven species.
Animal. See Neritina.
Shell. Marine, but never spined, solid, semiglobular, flattened beneath, not imbilicated; aperture large, entire, semilunar, the external margin much hollowed; the columella sharp and often dentated, operculum horny, subspiral, with a projecting tooth. Inhabits the seas of S. America and W. Indies. Twenty species.
Animal. Oval, not spiral, foot elliptical, very large, with a thin subpapillary edge, advanced rather anteriorly, without marginal furrow, but attached on each side to the visceral mass in all its posterior portion so as to form a sort of cavity open transversely behind; head very broad and semilunate; tentacula conical, contractile and distant; eyes subpedunculated at the external root of the tentacula; mouth large and longitudinal.
Shell. Fluviatile, elliptical, or oblong, convex above, summit straight, depressed to the margin, concave beneath; no columella; the columellar edge replaced by a sharp partition, covering part of the aperture; a sinus at its left extremity; muscular impression horse-shoe shaped, open in front and interrupted behind; thin, calcareous operculum, with a subulate, lateral tooth adhering to the posterior margin. Inhabits rivers in the Isle of France. Four species.
Animal. Oval, subspiral; foot profoundly and transversely bilobed anteriorly, and having a horny or calcareous operculum; head provided with long setaceous tentacula, flat, and auriculated at the base; eyes sessile at the external side of the root of the tentacula; mouth armed with a labial tooth.
Shell. Marine, distinguished from the Nerita by having no teeth, and having an umbilicus modified by a callosity; very smooth and glossy; no epidermis; spire evident, but low; columellar edge not toothed; right edge without teeth; operculum calcareous and smooth, semi-spiral, with concentrical ribs, fitting a groove on the columella. Inhabits the W. Indian Ocean and American seas. Thirty-six species.
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 beautiful violet colour, found in numbers floating on the surface of the ocean, suspended by a vesicular appendage which gives a rich purple stain. Extremely thin and fragile, spire low, lateral, pointed, with subcarinated whorls; aperture large, subangular, modified by the last whorl of the spire, edges disunited, the left formed by the columella, which is straight, continuing beyond the base, right edge sharp, with a sinus in the middle. Inhabits the Atlantic Ocean. Three species.
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 destitute of a transverse rib, orbicular, oblong ear-shaped, imperforate; aperture entire, large, sublongitudinal; right lip effuse, dilated, open. Inhabits the Indian Ocean. Five species.
Animal. Unknown.
Shell. Ear-shaped, imperforate, spire prominent; aperture entire, large, oblong; right margin and columella equally raised; a transverse and tuberculated rib on the back. Inhabits the Indian Ocean. Two species.
Animal. Body oval, much depressed, slightly spiral posteriorly, provided with a large foot doubly fringed at its circumference; head depressed; tentacula a little flattened; eyes at the summit of prismatic peduncles situated at the external side of the tentacula; mantle very thin, deeply slit at the left side; the two lobes pointed, and forming by their union a kind of canal to conduct water into the branchial cavity, and including two very long unequal branchial combs.
Shell. This beautiful genus derives its name from its resemblance to the human ear. The exterior, tuberculated, and generally loaded with marine substances, giving it an uncouth appearance, but its iridescent interior forms a magnificent contrast; it is pearly, with all the hues of the rainbow, recurving very depressed, oval, spire very small, sometimes eroded, almost posterior, aperture as large as the shell, with margins reflected inwards, the right sharp, left flat, and enlarged; disk pierced with holes, disposed in a line parallel to and near the left margin, the last commencing with a notch. These holes formed by the animal, as it increases the size of the shell, to admit the passage of a short syphon; they adhere to rocks, and are removed with much difficulty. Inhabits the sea at Molucca. Nineteen species.
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, without epidermis; elongated, conical, or subturriculated; aperture entire, demioval; the outer lip sharp and dentated within, columella produced, subperforate at the base, furnished with transverse plaits. Inhabits the American and W. Indian seas. Six species.
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 fossil.
Animal. As preceding genus.
Shell. Very similar to the Serpula, but the organization of the animal makes it a distinct genus; often found clustered together, and attached to marine substances; conical, thin, tubular, loosely spiral, aperture straight, circular, edges sharp and complete, several partitions not perforated towards the summit, operculum horny and complete. Inhabits the sandy shores of the W. Indies and Africa. Two species.
Animal. See Scalaria.
Shell. Thick, and pearly in the interior, subdiscoid or conical; spiral whorls rough or angular, often detached, spiny; large umbilicus, sometimes triangular; the margins united, mostly fringed or ventricose. Inhabits the Indian and American seas. Five living species. Seven fossil.
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 elongated, having the eyes upon a dilation of their external base; mouth without superior tooth, but furnished with a spiral lingual band.
Shell. Marine, found in almost all parts of the world, some smooth, others knotted, spined, tuberculated, or undulated; thick, generally pearly, spire sometimes depressed, at others elevated and pointed at the summit, sharp or carinated at its circumference, frequently umbilicated, not always; aperture transversely depressed, the margins not united at the upper part; columella arched and twisted, often projecting forward; operculum horny, thin, with numerous spiral whorls, increasing from the centre to the circumference. Inhabits the European seas. Ninety-nine living species. Eight fossil.
Animal. See Trochus.
Shell. This genus appears to be the connecting link between the Trochus and Turbo; distinguished from the former, by an entirely rounded aperture, slightly depressed; from the latter, by the toothlike projecting angle the truncated columella occasions at the base; an operculum. Inhabits the Chinese seas. Thirty-four species.
Animal. Very similar to that of Trochus, the sides sometimes ornamented with tentacular appendages, varying in number and form; head proboscidiform; tentacula thin and setaceous.
Shell. Depressed conical, or subturreted; sometimes umbilicated, frequently carinated at its circumference; interior pearly; aperture round or depressed, the middle of external edge hollowed; edges rarely joined by a callosity; columella arched, rarely twisted, not truncated at the base; an operculum. Inhabits the Indian and American seas. Fifty-one species.
Animal. Unknown.
Shell. Ovate conical, solid; aperture ovate, sublongitudinal, columella flat and truncated at the base, separated from the right margin by a narrow sinus. Interior surface of the right margin furrowed or lineated, and a callosity running under the summit. Inhabits the American and W. Indian seas. Four species.
Animal. Spiral; foot oval; upon each side an appendage ornamented with filaments; head edged anteriorly with a kind of veil formed by a double, bifid, fringed lip; two, long, conical tentacula; eyes borne upon short peduncles and situated at the external part of their base; mouth between two vertical subcornate lips.
Shell. Marine; many of them very rare and valuable; their beauty of colouring disposed so as to resemble the plumage of a pheasant. Oval, rather thick, smooth and glossy, spire pointed; columella uniting itself with the left edge, forming interiorly a longitudinal callosity; aperture oval, larger before, with edges disunited; operculum calcareous, oval, oblong, subspiral, the summit at one extremity. Inhabits the British coast. Twelve species.
Animal. Spiral; foot fringed anteriorly by a transversely wrinkled band; tentacula long, very fine towards their extremity, somewhat thick at their base, and having the eyes upon an inflation; the head skirted with a veil or fringe garnished with filaments.
Shell. Turreted, not nacred, rather thin, striated in the direction of the decurrence of the spire; very pointed, and with numerous whorls; aperture rounded; the edges posteriorly, the right exceedingly thin, and slightly sinuous towards the middle; operculum horny. Inhabits the Indian and American Oceans. Twenty-one living species. Thirty-seven fossil.
Animal. See Turbo.
Shell. Orbicular, glossy, destitute of epidermis; spire short, subconic; lower parts convex and callous; aperture half round. Indian Ocean. Seven species.
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 found in almost every sea. Forty-five living species. Sixty fossil.
Animal. Body oval, spiral above, enveloped in a mantle of which the right edge is furnished with lobes; foot oval and somewhat short; eyes situated at the external base of long, conical, retractile tentacula; mouth having a long extensible proboscis armed with hooked teeth; organs of respiration formed by two unequal branchiæ.
Shell. Fusiform, a little wrinkled, with a turriculated spire; a small oval aperture, terminated by a straight canal more or less long, with the right edge trenchant; a horny operculum. Distinguished from the Cerithium by having a notch in the margin. Twenty-nine living species. Thirty fossil.
Animal. Imperfectly known.
Shell. Usually turbinated (but sometimes turriculated), wrinkled, thick; spire slightly variable in form; aperture elongated, terminated by a straight canal, and often rather short; the left edge nearly straight and formed by a callosity concealing the columella, which has two or three nearly transverse and unequal folds; the right edge entire and trenchant. Found in the Equatorial or Australian seas. Twenty-three species.
Animal. See Purpura, hereafter.
Shell. Oval or globular, wrinkled; spire middling and pointed; aperture wide, ovate, grooved, and sometimes canaliculated anteriorly; the right edge concave and trenchant; the left nearly straight and marked in the middle with two or three folds; operculum horny. Inhabits the Indian Ocean. One species only is found in America. Forty-nine living species. Twenty fossil.
Animal. Entirely unknown.
Shell. Separated from the Murex on account of having no varix fusiform or subfusiform; spire middling; aperture oval, elongated, nearly symmetrical, terminated by a rather long, straight tube, the external edge trenchant, the columellar edge having two or three oblique folds. Inhabits the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Eight living species. Seven fossil.
Animal. Entirely unknown.
Shell. With an epidermis, wrinkled, fusiform or dilated in the middle, prolonged posteriorly by the spire, and still more so anteriorly by the canal; aperture oval; the columellar edge straight or nearly so, the exterior trenchant; a horny and oval operculum. Inhabits the Indian and American seas. Forty-six living species. Thirty-seven fossil.
Animal. Unknown.
Shell. Pyriform on account of the depression of the spire, which distinguishes it from the Fusus; the canal conical, very long or middling, sometimes a little sloped; aperture oval, rather large; the columella edge somewhat excavated, entire and trenchant; an operculum. Found in the Northern and American seas. Twenty-nine living species. Six fossil.
Animal. See Triton, hereafter.
Shell. Ovate; spire prolonged; aperture sinuous, terminated at the base by a very short, straight canal: columellar edge callous; right edge having a thickened varix. Inhabits the Mediterranean and Northern Seas. Two species.
Animal. Unknown.
Shell. Oval, and, as it were, depressed by the preservation of each side of a longitudinal thickened band; aperture oval, almost symmetrical by the excavation of the columellar edge, terminating anteriorly by a short canal, often a little sloping; a sinus at the posterior junction of the two edges. This genus forms a distinct division between the Murex and Struthiolaria. Inhabits the Northern and Mediterranean Seas. One species is found in America. Fifteen living species. Five fossil.
Animal. See Pleurotoma, above.
Shell. Usually oval; the spire but slightly elevated, roughened with longitudinal, transversal bands or varices; aperture small, quite oval, and symmetrical by the excavation of the left edge, formed by a lamina applied upon the columella, terminated anteriorly by a middling canal sometimes very long and closed; the right edge more or less furnished with varices. Operculum horny, complete, oval, nearly circular, with sub-concentric partitions; summit terminal. This genus comprehends only such shells as have only three or more varices on each whorl. These varices show how often the animal has increased the size of its shell. F. in all seas. Seventy-three living species. Two fossil.