A Conchological Manual by George Brettingham Sowerby (early reader books .txt) 📖

Mr.

   Swainson and Mr. Gray being a comparative thinness in the outer lip.

 

   BULINUS. Brug. (Bulinus, Lam.) _Fam._ Colimacea, Lam. Limacinea,

   Bl.--_Descr._ Oval or oblong, light, covered with a thin epidermis;

   spire obtuse, variable in length and in the number of whorls, which are

   generally few; aperture wide, oval, rounded anteriorly; outer lip

   simple, usually reflected, joining the columella without a sinus; inner

   lip reflected over part of the body-whorl. The Bulini are land shells,

   found in many parts of the world.--_Obs._ The genus Bulinus can only be

   distinguished from Helix by its oval form; it forms part of the genus

   Helix of De Ferrusac, under the sub-generic designation of Cochlostyla.

   It is known from Achatina by the absence of the notch at the point of

   union between the inner and the outer lips. The young are produced from

   eggs, which are as firm and opaque as those of birds. (See

   Introduction.) Bulinus rosaceus, fig. 282. B. Guadaloupensis, fig. 283.

Lionetianus, fig. 284. B. lubricus, fig. 285. Many new species were

   brought to this country by Mr. Cuming, and are represented in the

   Conchological Illustrations, published by the Author at 50, Great

   Russell Street, Bloomsbury, (in parts 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 30, 31, 34,

   35, 137 to 146, 185, 186.) Species occur in Europe, West Indies,

   Brazil, and South America generally. Some small species are British.

 

   BULLA. Auct. _Fam._ "Bulléens," Lam. Akera, Bl.--_Descr._ Generally

   thin, smooth, oval, oblong or cylindrical, more or less convolute;

   spire short, depressed, or hidden by the last whorl; aperture long,

   wide in front, gradually narrowing towards the spire; outer lip thin;

   inner lip spread over a part of the last whorl.--_Obs._ The shells

   composing this genus are very variable in form. The light horny species

   with an elastic lip is called Akera, fig. 247. The more decidedly

   convolute species with hidden spires are the Atys, Montf. B. Naucum,

   fig. 250. B. Lignaria, fig. 251, is Scaphander of Leach. The light,

   thin species, with extremely wide aperture, fig. 248, is Bullæa aperta,

   Lam. The genus Bullinula of Dr. Beck, consists of those species which

   have more produced spines, fig. 253. The Bullæ are marine, and inhabit

   all climates. The fossil species occur in tertiary beds.

 

   BULLÆA. Lam. BULLA aperta, Auct. fig. 248.

 

   BULLÆANA. ("Bulléens, Lam.") A family belonging to the first section of

   Lamarck's order, Gasteropoda, containing the genus Bulla. The genera

   Bullæa, Akera, Aplustra, Atys, Scaphander, Bullinula, into which it has

   been divided, may all be fairly included under the name BULLA.

 

   BULLIA. Gray. A genus of shells partly resembling Buccinum, and Terebra

   in general form, being more elongated than the former and more

   ventricose than the latter. Mr. Gray remarks in the Synopsis of the

   British Museum, page 114, that the Bulliæ resemble the Nassæ in most

   characters, "but they have a very large, broad foot, and the hinder

   part of the inner lip of the shell being extended beyond the mouth,

   forms a raised enamelled band round the suture of the whorls, as is

   also the case with the Ancillariæ and some Volutes." Bullia vittata,

   fig. 427, is an example of the genus. The name Subula is given by De

   Blainville to the other species of Terebra, so that if both these

   genera were admitted, the old genus Terebra must be expunged.

 

   BULLINULA. Beck. Species of BULLA, with produced conical spires, fig.

   253.

 

   BYSSOARCA. Sw. (_Byssus_ and _Arca_.) _Fam._ Arcacea, Lam. A genus of

   bivalve shells, composed of the Arca _Noæ_, and several other species,

   separated from the genus Arca on account of their shells being attached

   by means of a byssus passing through an hiatus in the ventral margins.

_Noæ_, fig. 132. The species occur in Southern Europe, East and West

   Indies, China; also, on the coasts of Great Britain.

 

   BYSSOMYA. Cuvier. (_Byssus_ and _Mya_.) De Blainville states that

   although the shell of this proposed genus resembles Saxicava, the

   animal is sufficiently different to justify the separation.

 

   BYSSUS. ([Greek: Bussos], _byssus_, ancient name for linen.) The

   tendinous fibres by which some Bivalves are as it were anchored or

   moored to sub-marine substances. A fine example of this is to be seen

   in the Pinnæ which bear some resemblance to large Muscle Shells and

   have an hiatus in the margins of the valves through which a bunch of

   silken fibres passes. In the British Museum there is preserved a pair

   of gloves which have been woven of these fibres. The Byssus is peculiar

   to some bivalve shells such as Muscles, Hammer Oysters, Arca Noæ, &c.

 

   CALCAR. Montf. (a spur.) A genus composed of TROCHUS STELLARIS, Lam.

   and other depressed species of Trochus which are characterized by a

   stellated keel round the angle of the last whorl; but not including T.

   Imperialis, which is the genus Imperator, Montf. The difference

   consists in the latter being umbilicated and the former not. T.

   stellaris, fig. 358.

 

   CALCAREOUS, (_calx_, lime.) A term applied to a shell or to its

   operculum which is composed principally of lime or shelly matter, as is

   usually the case, in distinction from one which is of an horny,

   membranaceous texture. The greater number of shells are calcareous, but

   it forms an important point of distinction with regard to the

   operculum. The only difference between the genera Trochus and Turbo, as

   at present established, depends upon the calcareous or shelly, and the

   corneus or horny texture of the operculum.

 

   CALCEOLA. _Fam._ Rudistes, Lam. and Bl.--_Descr._ Equilateral,

   inequivalve, triangular; umbones separated by a large triangular disc

   in the lower valve; cardinal margin straight, linear, dentated; lower

   valve large, deep; upper valve flat, semi-orbicular, forming a kind of

   operculum to the lower.--_Obs._ This singular shell, known only in a

   fossil state, in the Palæozöic beds, is placed by Linnæus in the genus

   Anomia. Lamarck places it among his Rudistes, but Mr. Sowerby in his

   genera of Shells, states that it should be added to the family of

   Brachiopoda. Fig. 194, 195. C. Sandalina.

 

   CALLANTICA. Gray. POLLICIPES hispidus, Leach.

 

   CALLIA. Gray? A genus described as having a peculiarly polished shell

   like Pupina, but wanting the notch.

 

   CALLISOSTOMA. Sw. A genus of shells separated from TROCHUS, and thus

   described, "Imperforate; spire elevated, acute; aperture broader than

   high, transversely ovate, hardly sinuated at the base, and slightly

   oblique; shells always smooth, and often polished." C. zizyphina is

   mentioned as an example.

 

   CALLIRHOE. Montf. p. 362, vol. 2. Appears to be figured from the nut or

   inner portion of a large Belemnite.

 

   CALLISCAPHA. Gray? IRIDINA Nilotica, Sow. Zool. Journ. 1. pl. 2.

   Separated from Iridina on account of the hinge margin being smooth.

 

   CALLITHEA. Sw. A sub-genus of Mitræ, consisting of those species, which

   like M. sanguisuga, have the "spire and aperture of nearly equal

   length; internal channel nearly obsolete; shell with longitudinal

   linear ribs, crossed by transverse striæ and bands; base contracted."

   Swainson Mallac. Lard. Cyclop.

 

   CALLOSITY. A term used in general zoology to express those hard horny

   tumidities formed in the skin of some animals, (such as the Dromedary,

   for instance) in those parts which are most frequently used. It is not

   used in this sense by Conchologists, who apply it to those undefined

   tumidities or bumps which appear on the inner surface and hinge of some

   bivalve shells, and to the thickening over the umbilicus of Naticæ.

   Glycimeris, fig. 67. Natica, fig. 327, 328.

 

   CALPURNUS. Montf. OVULUM _verrucosum_, Auct. Distinguished by the small

   circular tubercle at the back of each extremity of the shell. Fig. 441.

 

   CALYPTRACEA. Lam. A family belonging to the first section of the order

   Gasteropoda, Lam., the shells of which are described as always

   external, covering the animal, and having no operculum. The genera

   contained in this family may be thus distinguished.

 

CALYPTRÆA. Conical; apex central, septum spiral, cup-shaped, or

       forked; including _Infundibulum_. Fig. 234 to 238.

 

CREPIDULA. Apex terminal; septum flat, reaching half across the

       aperture. Fig. 239.

 

CAPULUS. Conical; apex obliquely curved, no septum. Fig. 240.

 

EMARGINULA. Apex curved backwards; a notch in the anterior

       margin; including _Parmophorus_. Fig. 241, 242.

 

CEMORIA. A slit _near_ the apex. Fig. 244.

 

FISSURELLA. A slit _upon_ the apex. Fig. 245.

 

RIMULA. A slit near the margin. Fig. 243.

 

ANCYLUS. Apex curved sidewise. Fig. 246.

 

   CALYPTRACEA. Bl. The second family of the order Scutibranchiata. Bl.

   thus described: "Shell more or less conical, not spiral, or very

   slightly so; aperture large and entire." The genera included in this

   family are Crepidula, Calyptræa, Capulus, Hipponyx, and Notrêma.

 

   CALYPTRÆA. Lam. _Fam._ Calyptracea, Lam. and Bl.--_Descr._ Conical,

   patelliform, irregular, with an internal, lateral, salient plate or

   septum, varying in form.--_Obs._ The internal appendage is in some

   species cup-shaped, in some it juts out of the centre in a double

   point; in others it is only a small flap; and in others a spiral disc.

   These last, which are shaped like Trochus, are separated by De Montfort

   under the appellation INFUNDIBULUM; TROCHATELLA, Sw. The Calyptræa may

   be known from Crepidula by the septum, which in the latter is a flat

   plate reaching half way across the cavity. Fig. 234, 5, 6.

 

   CAMERINA. Brug. NUMMULITES, Auct.

 

   CAMILLUS. Montf. A genus founded upon a minute spiral shell, with a

   triangular aperture, turned over the back of the last whorl. It is

   figured in Soldani's Testacea Microscopica.

 

   CAMPULOTUS. Guettard. MAGILUS, Auct.

 

   CANAL. A groove which characterizes some spiral univalves, where the

   inner and outer lips unite at the front part of the aperture. This

   canal is drawn out in some shells to a considerable length, in others

   it is turned abruptly over the back. The family Canaliferæ, Lam. (fig.

   372 to 401), are all provided with this canal.

 

   CANALICULATED. Applied generally to any distinct groove or canal.

 

   CANALIFERA. (_Canalifères_, Lam.) A family belonging to the order

   Trachelipoda, Lam. nearly corresponding with the family Entomostomata

   in De Blainville's system, and described as having a canal of greater

   or less extent at the anterior part of the aperture. This canal is

   sometimes straight, sometimes tortuous, and in some genera it is

   recurved over the back of the shell. All the shells have an operculum,

   and the thickness of the perfectly formed outer lip does not increase

   with age. The Canalifera are characterized by having a canal, in

   distinction from the Purpurifera, which have only a notch. This family

   contains the following genera,

 

CERITHIUM. Club-shaped. Fig. 372.

 

POTAMIS. The same, fresh water. Fig. 377.

 

NERINEA. The same, with internal folds. Fig. 374.

 

TRIPHORA. Anterior and posterior canals closed so as to present

       three openings. Fig. 375, 376.

 

TELESCOPIUM. Pyramidal, trochiform. Fig. 378.

 

PLEUROTOMA. A slit on the upper part of the outer lip; including

       _Clavatula_. Fig. 379, 381.

 

TURBINELLA. Three horizontal folds on the columella. Fig. 382,

       383.

 

SPIRILLUS. Spire papillary; one fold on the columella. Fig. 384.

 

CANCELLARIA. Three folds, and internal costæ. Fig. 385.

 

FASCIOLARIA. Oblique folds, the lowest the largest. Fig. 386.

 

FUSUS. Fusiform; no folds on the columella. Fig. 387.

 

PYRULA. Pear-shaped. Fig. 388 to 390.

 

STRUTHIOLARIA. Outer lip thickened; sinuated. Fig. 391.

 

RANELLA. Two rows of varices; a canal at each extremity of the

       aperture. Fig. 393, 394.

 

MUREX. Three or more rows of varices; only one distinct canal.

       Fig. 395, 396.

 

TYPHIS. A tubular perforation between each varix. Fig. 397.

 

TRITON. Varices not in rows. Fig. 398 to 401.

 

   CANCELLARIA. Auct. (From _Cancellatus_, cross-barred, like window

   frames or net work.) _Fam._ Canalifera, Lam. Entomostomata, Bl.--Descr.

   Oval, thick, cancellated; spire generally short, pointed; aperture

   sub-ovate, emarginated anteriorly, pointed at the posterior extremity;

   outer lip marked within by transverse ridges; inner lip spread over

   part of the body whorl, terminating in a straight, thick, obtuse

   columella, with several strong oblique folds. _Hab._ Indian Ocean,

   Coast of Africa, America, and West Indies. Fossils found in London Clay

   and Calc-grossier of Paris. Differing from Turbinellus in form and in

   the transversely ribbed inside of the outer lip. Fig. 315. C.

   reticulata.--_Obs._ The latest enumeration of the species of this genus

   is contained in a catalogue published by Mr. G. B. Sowerby, senior,

   accompanying the author's figures of the new species, amounting to 38,

 in parts 9 to 13 of the Conchological Illustrations. The greater part

   of these new species were brought to this country by Mr. Cuming.

 

   CANCELLATED. (From _Cancellatus_,