A Conchological Manual by George Brettingham Sowerby (early reader books .txt) 📖
- Author: George Brettingham Sowerby
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with enamelled surface and spiral operculum. See PUPINA.
MOURETIA. Gray. "_Gadin_," Adanson. A genus of patelliform shells,
described as differing from SIPHONARIA (the original Mouretia of
Adanson) in the situation of the siphon, which in Mouretia is close to
the place where the muscular impression is interrupted to leave a space
for the head; while in Siphonaria it is nearly half way between the
anterior and posterior ends of the shell.
MOUTH. The aperture or opening of univalve shells.
MULINIA. Gray. A genus composed of species of MACTRA, Auct. described
as having the ligament (properly so called) internal, and lateral teeth
simple. _Ex._ fig. 82. M. bicolor; Mactra, Auct.
MULLERIA. Fer. _Fam._ Ostracea, Lam.--_Descr._ Irregular, subquadrate,
inequivalve, inequilateral, foliaceous, attached, pearly within, green,
horny without; hinge irregular, with a partly external ligament,
passing to the interior, through a sort of sinus.--_Obs._ This
remarkable shell resembles Etheria in general form and appearance, but
is distinguished by having only one muscular impression. It is so rare
that, although not very beautiful, a specimen has been known to produce
£20. at a sale. Fig. 192.
MULTILOCULAR. Many chambered.
MULTISPIRAL. (_Multus_, many, _spira_, spire.) A term applied to a
shell when the spire consists of numerous whorls; or to an operculum of
numerous volutions.
MULTIVALVE. (_Multus_, many; _valva_, valve.) Consisting of numerous
valves. There are three kinds of multivalve shells: 1st. Those in which
the valves are arranged in pairs, and produce a flattened figure, as
Pedunculated Cirripedes, fig. 34 to 43; 2nd. Those in which they are
arranged circularly, as Sessile Cirripedes, the valves of which are of
two kinds; the _opercular_, consisting of several valves, which close
the aperture, and the _parietal_, consisting of those which surround
the body of the animal in a circular form, fig. 14 to 33. 3rd. Those in
which they are arranged in a straight line, as Chiton, fig. 227.
MUREX. Auct. (_A sharp rock._) _Fam._ Canalifera, Lam. siphonostoma,
Bl.--_Descr._ Turrited, ventricose, thick, with three or more
longitudinal, continuous, branched, spinose or fringed varices; spire
prominent, acute; aperture oval, terminating in a posterior, partly
closed canal, outer lip varicose, inner lip smooth, laminar; operculum
horny, concentric, pointed.--_Obs._ This genus contains some of the
most exquisitely beautiful shells in existence, the richness of their
colouring, the ramifications of their varices, would render most
species the finest possible subject for the exercise of the painter's
art in still life. The most remarkable are the Rosebud Murex, with its
pink-tipt fringes, the Venus Comb, with its long rows of parallel
spines; the Ducal Murex, the Royal Murex, and many others, which are
much sought after by collectors. Murex may be distinguished from Triton
by the continuity of the varices, which follow each other in a tortuous
direction on the spire. The Ranellæ have only two rows of varices, and
have a posterior as well as anterior canal; while Murices have three or
more varices, and only one canal. The genus Typhis consists of several
small species resembling Murex in every respect, excepting that of
having a tubular opening on the upper part of the whorl between each
varix. See TYPHIS. The most beautiful Murices are brought from tropical
climates. Fig. 395, 396.
MURICANTHUS. Sw. A sub-genus of Murex, thus described: "Varices
numerous, foliated; spire short; margin of the outer lip with a
prominent tooth near the base; Radix. _Sw._ Zool. Ill. 2nd series. pl.
113, Melanomathus. En. Méth. 418. f. 2." Sw. p. 296. The latter of the
two species quoted, however, does not agree with the description,
having no prominent tooth on the margin of the outer lip.
MURICATED. (_Muricatus._) Having sharp points or prickles.
MURICIDEA. Sw. A genus of "Muricinæ," Sw. thus described, "Spire more
produced, as long or longer than the body whorl; varices numerous; no
internal channel at the top of the aperture." Sw. p. 297, and
consisting of the following incongruous species, "Lamellosa. Chem. f.
1823, 4. magellanica. En. M. 419. f. 4. peruviana. Ib. f. 5. senticosa,
Ib. f. 3. scaber. En. Méth. 419. f. 6. hexagona. Ib. 418. f. 3.
erinacea. Mart. f. 1026." Sw. p. 297.
MUSCULAR IMPRESSIONS are the marks or areas formed on the interior
surface of shells by the muscular fibres which attach the animals to
them. Lamarck has divided his Conchifera into two kinds: 1st.
Monomyaria, those which have but one adductor muscle, and consequently
have but one impression in each valve, as the common Oyster, fig. 180;
2nd. The Dimyaria, those which have two, and consequently have two
impressions in each valve. There are other smaller impressions in some
shells besides the principal. The palleal impression is a mark or scar
passing near the margin of the shell. See Introduction.
MYA. Auct. _Fam._ Myaria, Lam. Pyloridea, Bl.--_Descr._ Transverse,
oval, thick, gaping at both extremities, rounded anteriorly, acuminated
posteriorly; hinge with one large, dilate, compressed tooth in one
valve, and a suture in the other, containing the cartilage; muscular
impressions two, distant, large, irregular; palleal impression with a
large sinus.--_Obs._ Mya may be known by the large, prominent, broad
tooth in one valve. In Anatina there is one in each valve, and, in
Lyonsia, accessory pieces. Lutraria has cardinal teeth and a
ligamentary pit. Few species of Mya are known. They belong to the
Northern Hemisphere. M. truncata, fig. 71.
MYCETOPODA or MYCETOPUS. D'Orb. _Fam._ Nayades, Lam.--_Descr._ Shell
elongated, soleniform, inequivalve, inequilateral, gaping anteriorly;
muscular impressions very complex.--_Obs._ These shells are said to
terebrate like Pholas. Fig. 151. M. solenoides.
MYARIA. Lam. A family belonging to Lamarck's order Conchifera Dimyaria.
Containing the following genera:
ANATINA. Ligament in a spoon-shaped prominence on the hinge of
each valve, shell thin. Fig. 69.
MYA. Spoon-shaped prominence in one valve; shell thick. Fig. 71.
ANATINELLA. A spoon-shaped process in both valves. Fig. 70.
LYONSIA. An internal bony appendage on the hinge. Fig. 491, 492.
MYOCHAMA. Flat valve attached, a bony appendage on the hinge.
Fig. 73.
CLEIDOTHÆRUS. Deep valve attached, a bony appendage. Fig. 75,
76.
CUMINGIA. Ligamentary pit in both valves, spoon-shaped. Fig. 87.
MYOCHAMA. Stutch. (_Mya_ and _Chama_.) _Fam._ Myaria, Lam.--_Descr._
Inequivalve, irregular, attached, subequilateral; attached valve flat,
with two marginal, diverging teeth, and one end of a little testaceous
appendage fixed between them by a horny cartilage; free valve convex,
with umbo incurved and two very minute, diverging teeth, between which
the other end of the testaceous appendage is placed; external surface
of both valves conforming to the grooves or undulations of the shell to
which the specimen is attached; muscular impressions two in each valve;
palleal impressions with a short sinus.--_Obs._ This new genus, of
which only one species is known, the M. anomioides from New South
Wales, differs from Anomia and Anatina in being attached by the surface
of one of the valves, from which circumstance the word Chama is added
to its name; the little testaceous appendage bringing it near the
Myariæ. Fig. 73, M. anomioides.
MYOCONCHA. Sow. (_Mya_ and _Concha_.) _Fam._ Cardiacea, Lam.--_Descr._
Oval, equivalve, oblique; umbones terminal; ventral margin rounded;
hinge with an external ligament, and one oblique, elongated tooth in
the left valve; impression of the mantle not sinuated.--_Obs._ The
fossil genus has the general form of Mytilus or Modiola, but the hinge
of the Conchæ generally.
MYOPARA. Lea. (_Myoparo_, a piratical oar-galley.) _Fam._ Arcacea, Lam.
A genus founded on a minute fossil bivalve shell, somewhat resembling
Isocardia in form, but having a series of teeth placed on each side of
the umbones. M. costatus, fig. 135.
MYRISTICA. Sw. A genus of "Pyrulinæ," Sw. thus described:
"Sub-pyriform; spire strong, spiny, or tuberculated, nearly as long as
the base; umbilicus either partially or entirely concealed; inner lip
vitreous, thin; the outer with an internal and ascending canal; the
basal channel wide. Hippocastanea. En. M. 432. f. 4. lineata, Ib. f. 5.
melongena. En. Méth. 435. f. 3. nodosa. Chem. 1564. 5." Sw. p. 307.
_Ex._ P. Melongena, Fig.
MYRTEA. Turt. VENUS spinifera, Auct. LUCINA spinifera, Nonnull. The
shells of this genus are described as "Oval, triangular, equivalve,
nearly equilateral, closed. Hinge of one valve with a single tooth, and
lateral one on each side; of the other valve with two teeth, the
lateral ones obscure. Ligament external." British Channel and
Mediterranean.
MYSCA. Turt. A genus composed of species of UNIO, Auct. which are
distinguished by having "strong, transverse, notched, cardinal and long
lateral teeth." Unio pictorum.
MYSIA. Leach. A genus composed of TELLINA rotundata, montagu and other
similar species.
MYTILACEA. Bl. The fourth family of Lamellibranchiata, Bl. The shells
are described as regular, equivalve, frequently with a thick, horny
epidermis. A toothless hinge and a linear ligament. This family
contains the genera Mytilus and Pinna.
MYTILACEA. Lam. A family belonging to the first section of Conchifera
Monomyaria, Lam. described as having the ligament partly interior,
occupying the greater part of the hinge line, which is straight. The
shell is rarely foliaceous. The Mytilaceæ cannot easily be confounded
with the Malleaceæ, because the former are generally regular and the
latter are irregular, and have a thick internal coating of pearl,
beyond which the external coating extends. The genera may be thus
distinguished:
MYTILUS. Umbones terminating in a point. Fig. 158.
DREISSINA. The same, with a septiform plate. Fig. 159.
MODIOLA. Anterior margin rounded beyond the umbones. Fig. 160.
PINNA. Open at the posterior extremity. Fig. 162.
LITHODOMUS. Cylindrical, living in holes. Fig. 161.
MYTILUS. Auct. _Fam._ Mytilacea. Lam.--_Descr._ Equivalve, cuneiform,
oblique, smooth, with umbones terminal, pointed, and posterior side
broad, rounded; hinge linear, with a long, partly internal ligament;
muscular impressions two in each valve, that on the posterior side
large, irregular; that on the anterior small; palleal impression
irregular.--_Obs._ The Linnean genus Mytilus included the Modiolæ,
which differ from the Mytili in the rounded anterior side; and the
Pinnæ, which are large shells, gaping at the posterior extremity. M.
achatinus, fig. 158.
NÆARA. Gray. A genus composed of ANATINA longirostrum, Lam. and other
similar species.
NAIA. Sw. A sub-genus of Castalia, Lam. thus described: "Oval, cardinal
teeth beneath the bosses, and deeply sulcated, C. corrugata. _Lam._ En.
Méth. 248. f. 8, picta. _Sw._ En. Méth. 248. f. 6." Sw. p. 379.
NANINIA. Gray. A genus composed of the planorbicular species of HELIX,
with large umbilici, and outer lip thin, included in the sub-genus
Helicella, Fer. _Ex._ H. citrina, fig. 280.
NASSA. Lam. A genus of small shells united to Buccinum by some authors,
but separated by others on account of the little tooth-like projection
terminating the columella. N. arcularia, fig. 423.
NATICA. Brug. _Fam._ Neritacea, Lam. Hemicyclostomata, Bl.--_Descr._
Globose, thick, generally smooth; spire short, pointed, with few
volutions; aperture semilunar, entire; outer lip thin; columellar lip
oblique, nearly straight, callous; umbilicus with a spiral callosity,
terminating behind the columella, and sometimes filling up the cavity;
operculum shelly in some species, horny in others; epidermis thin,
light, semitransparent.--_Obs._ The straight, callous, smooth edge of
the columella and the callosity serve to distinguish this genus from
Nerita, Neritina, Neritopsis and Helix. Fig. 327, 328.
NATICARIA. Sw. A sub-genus of Natica, thus described: "Oval; convex
above; umbilicus small, open, placed very near the top of the aperture;
inner lip reflected; small. N. melanostoma, Mart. 189. f. 1926, 1927.
cancellata, _Sw._ Ib. 189. f. 1939. bifasciata, Griff. Cuv. 1. f. 2."
Sw. p. 346.
NATICELLA. Guild. A sub-genus of Natica, thus described: "Operculum
horny; shell globose, but generally depressed; umbilicus nearly filled
up by a vitreous deposition of the inner lip; spire obtuse. N.
aurantia. Mart. 189. f. 1934, 1935." Sw. p. 345.
NAVICELLA. Lam. (_A little ship._) _Fam._ Neritacea, Lam.
Hemicyclostomata, Bl.--_Descr._ Transversely oval, symmetrical, smooth;
aperture entire, oval; dorsal surface convex; outer lip thin; inner lip
flat, straight edged; spread over the front surface of the body whorl,
and sometimes hiding the apex; apex incurved; operculum testaceous,
flat, sub-quadrate, with a lateral articulation.--_Obs_. This well
known genus, of which there are several species, is named Cimber by
Montfort. The shells are brought from India, the Isle of France and the
Moluccas. Fig. 323, N. elliptica.
NAUTELLIPSITES. Parkinson. A generic name proposed to include
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