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

described under this Lamarckian genus present

   an anomaly which is considered by Mr. G. B. Sowerby, sen., as merely

   accidental. They resemble the Ammonites in internal structure, but

   instead of being spirally convolute they are merely curved like a horn.

   _Ex._ fig. 477, copied from De Blainville.

 

   AMNICOLA. The name of a genus mentioned in the family of Melaniana in

   the conchological part of the Synopsis of the British Museum, but

   unexplained.

 

   AMPHIBOLA ----? The same as AMPULLARIA, Auct.

 

   AMPHIBULIMA. Lam. SUCCINEA Patula, Auct. (fig. 266.) was first

   published in the Ann. du. Mus. D'Hist. Nat. under the name Amphibulima

   cucullata. The generic name was afterwards abandoned by its author, and

   the species stands in his system as Succinea cucullata. West Indies.

 

   AMPHIDESMA. Lam. (from [Greek: Amphô], _ampho_, _ambo_, [Greek:

   Desmos], _desmos_, _ligamentum_). _Fam._ Mactracea, Lam.--_Descr._

   Equivalve, oval or rounded, sub-equilateral, sometimes rather gaping at

   the sides, with slight posterior fold; hinge with one or two cardinal

   teeth in each valve, and two elongated lateral teeth, distinct in one

   valve, nearly obsolete in the other; ligament short, separated from the

   cartilage, which is elongated and couched obliquely in an excavation of

   the hinge.--_Obs._ In most bivalve shells, the cartilage and ligament

   are united in one mass, or placed close to each other; the contrary in

   this case gives rise to the name, which signifies _double ligament_.

   This circumstance distinguishes the genus Amphidesma from Tellina,

   which in other respects it greatly resembles. From Lutraria it may be

   known by its distinct lateral teeth, and also by its valves being

   nearly close all round, while the Lutrariæ gape anteriorly. The species

   do not appear to be numerous, no fossil species are known. A.

   _Reticulatum_, fig. 85. West India Islands, Brazil, Coast of Pacific,

   &c.

 

   AMPHIPEPLEA. Nilson. The type of this proposed genus is LIMNEA

   glutinosa, Auct. Gray's edition of Turton, page 243, plate 9. fig. 103.

   The shell is polished and the inner lip expanded.

 

   AMPHISTEGINA. D'Orb. A genus of microscopic Foraminifera.

 

   AMPLEXUS. J. Sowerby. A. _Corralloides_, fig. 463. A singularly formed

   fossil, described as nearly cylindrical, divided into chambers by

   numerous transverse septa, which embrace each other with reflected

   margins. It occurs in the Dublin limestone, and resembles a coral or

   madrepore.

 

   AMPLEXUS. A generic name proposed by Captain Brown for HELIX pulchella,

   Drap. 112, tab. 107-134. Zurama, Leach.

 

   AMPULLARIA. Auct. (_Ampulla_, a rounded vessel). _Fam._ "Peristomiens,"

   Lam. Ellipsostomata, Bl.--_Descr._ Spiral, globular, sometimes

   discoidal, frequently umbilicated, covered with a rounded, horny

   epidermis; spire short; whorls rapidly enlarging; aperture elliptical,

   rounded anteriorly; peristome nearly or quite entire, thickened and

   slightly reflected; operculum, testaceous, annular, with a subcentral

   nucleus.--_Obs._ This genus of fresh-water shells of which a few fossil

   species occur, is easily distinguished from other genera, by obvious

   characters, particularly by a thick, horny, greenish-brown epidermis,

   and the rotundity in form. One species, the A. Cornu-arietis which

   forms the type of Lamarck's genus Planorbis, requires notice on account

   of its flatness, but may be known by the aperture which in the

   Ampullaria is longer than wide, and in Planorbis the contrary.

   Lanistes, Montf. is described from a _reversed_ species of Ampullaria.

   The Ampullaria is vulgarly called the Idol Shell, and is said to be

   held in great veneration by the South American Savages. The animal has

   a large bag, opening beneath, placed on the side of the respiratory

   cavity. It is supposed that the animal has the power of filling this

   bag with water, and that it is thus enabled to live a long time out of

   water. They have been brought as far as from Egypt to Paris alive,

   packed in saw-dust. _Ex._ fig. 318. East and West Indies, North Africa,

   South America, &c.

 

   AMPULLARINA ----? A genus formed for the reception of AMPULLARIA

   avellana. Fig. 538. From Australia.

 

   AMPULLINA ----? Part of the genus HELICINA, Auct.

 

   ANALOGOUS. A term applied to certain species of fossil shells, which

   present a certain degree of resemblance to recent species; but which

   are not sufficiently similar to warrant the use of the term

   'identical,' or any other implying that they are of the same species.

 

   ANASTOMA or ANOSTOMA. Fischer. (from [Greek: Ana], _ana_, backwards;

   [Greek: Stoma], _stoma_, mouth) _Fam._ Colimacea, Lamark. A genus of

   land shells so named from the singular circumstance of the last whorl

   taking a sudden turn and reflecting the aperture upwards, so as to

   present it on the same plane with the spire; so that the animal walks

   with the spire of the shell downwards resting on the foot. In other

   respects, the two species of which this genus is composed, resemble

   other Helices; and belong to De Ferrusac's division "Helicodonta."

   _Tomogerus_ is De Montfort's name for this genus. _A. depressum_ is

   represented in the plates figs. 271, 272. The nearest approach to this

   genus will be found in the fossil shell named Strophostoma, by

   Deshayes, which, however, has no teeth in the aperture and is provided

   with an operculum like Cyclostoma. South America.

 

   ANATIFER. Brug. ANATIFA, Lam. This name, which signifies Duckbearing,

   has been given to the shells commonly called Barnacles, on account of

   an absurd notion entertained among the ancients, that they inclose the

   young of the Barnacle duck, in an embryo state. The beautiful bunch of

   jointed arms, the ciliæ of which serve the purpose of agitating the

   water, so as to draw in food by the current, were supposed to be the

   feathers of the future bird. For a description of these shells, see

   PENTELASMIS; and fig. 34.

 

   ANATINA. Lam. (_That which belongs to a duck._) _Fam._ Myaria, Lam.

   Pyloridea, Bl.--_Descr._ Thin, transparent, generally equivalve,

   inequilateral, transverse, marine; hinge with a spoon-shaped process in

   each valve, containing the cartilage.--_Obs._ Some species included in

   the genus Anatina of authors, A. striata, for instance, have not the

   spoon-shaped prominence, but in its place a small, testaceous, moving

   appendage, connected with the interior of the hinge. These are now

   separated, and form the genus LYONSIA. The genus Næara, Gray, is

   composed of Anatina longirostrum, and similar species, which have

   neither the bony appendage nor the spoon-shaped prominence. Mya is

   distinguished from Anatina, by the thickness of the shell, and also by

   having the prominence only in the hinge of one valve. Fig. 69. A.

   rostrata. The Anatinæ are found in the East Indies and South Sea

   Islands.

 

   ANATINELLA. G. B. Sowerby. (Dimunition of _Anatina_). A genus so named

   from its resemblance to Anatina, from which it differs in being

   destitute of the internal appendage, and having no sinus in the palleal

   impression. One species having been brought from Ceylon, received the

   name of Anatinella Sibbaldii. Another has lately been found in the

   Philippine Islands. Fig. 70.

 

   ANATOMUS. Montf. Tom. 2, plate 279. A microscopic shell, appearing from

   the figure to resemble SCISSURELLA.

 

   ANAULAX. Brogn. ANCILLARIA, Auct.

 

   ANCILLA. Lam. ANCILLARIA, Auct.

 

   ANCILLARIA. Auct. ANCILLA, Lam. (_A handmaid._) _Fam._ convolutæ, Lam.

   Angyostomata, Bl.--_Descr._ Smooth, oblong, subcylindrical. Spire

   short, sutures hidden by enamel. Aperture long, anteriorly emarginated

   and somewhat effuse. Columella tortuous, oblique, tumid,

   truncated.--_Obs._ The Ancillariæ are pretty shining shells, enveloped

   almost entirely by the soft parts of the animal. They resemble Oliva,

   from which they are distinguished by the suture of the spire being

   filled up with shelly enamel, nearly covering the surface. The whorls

   in Oliva being separated by a distinct canal. Ancillaria may be known

   from Terebellum by the tumid varix at the base of the columella. The

   well known Ivory shell, Eburna glabrata, _Lam._ belongs to this genus,

   of which a few fossil species are found in the London clay, Calcaire

   grossièr and green sand, Turin. The recent species are found in the

   Islands of the Indian Ocean and Australian Seas. A. glabrata is

   represented in the plates fig. 455; A. cinnamonea, fig. 456.

 

   ANCULOSA. Say. _Fam._ Melaniana, Lam. Ellipsostomata, Bl. A genus

   proposed to include some fresh-water shells resembling those of the

   genus Melania, the difference between them being that the spire of

   Anculosa is more depressed, and the anterior of the outer lip more

   angulated than in Melania. On an examination of the different species,

   however, it will be found that this is quite unsatisfactory, as a

   generic distinction; because some of the species with short flattened

   spires, have rounded, and others angulated apertures. North America. An

   example of each is represented, fig. 314.

 

   ANCYLUS. Geoffroy. _Fam._ Calyptracea, Lam. Otides, Bl.--_Descr._ Thin,

   obliquely conical, patelliform; apex acute, turned sidewise and

   backwards; aperture oval; margin simple.--_Obs._ Although the little

   fresh-water shells described under this name, resemble those of the

   genus Patella, the animals which produce them are nearly allied to the

   Lymneanæ. And, it may also be observed, that the shells themselves

   differ from Patella in not being quite symmetrical, having the apex

   turned on one side. A. fluviatilis, fig. 246. Found in Great Britain,

   and in Southern and Central Europe, West Indies, &c.

 

   ANDROMEDES. Montf. VORTICIALIS, Lam. _Fam._ Nautilacea, Lam. A genus of

   microscopic Foraminifera.

 

   ANGULATED. (Angulatus.) Having an angle, or corner, as the anterior of

   the aperture of Eulima, fig. 348; the posterior side of Castalia, fig.

   140; the whorls of Carocolla, fig. 277.

 

   ANGULITES. Montf. A genus composed of species of fossil NAUTILI,

   described by De Blainville as not umbilicated, with a dorsal keel and

   angular aperture. NAUTILUS triangularis Buffon.

 

   ANGIOSTOMATA. Bl. The third family of Siphonobranchiata, Bl. described

   as differing little from the family of Entomostomata, but having long,

   narrow, straight apertures, and the columellar lips straight or nearly

Were it not for the admission of the genus Strombus into this

   family, it would correspond with COLUMELLARIA and CONVOLUTÆ of Lamarck.

 

   ANNELIDES. The ninth class of invertebrated animals, divided into three

   orders, namely, A. Apodes, A. Antennés, and A. Sedentaires. The last

   only contains families of testaceous Mollusca. The animals are

   vermicular, some naked, others inhabiting shelly tubes. See SEDENTARY

   ANNELIDES.

 

   ANNULAR OPERCULUM is one which has the nucleus central, or nearly so,

   the other layers surrounding it in flattened rings. The term concentric

   is also applied. See Introduction.

 

   ANNULATED. (Annus, a ring.) Composed of, or surrounded by rings, as in

   the case of Tubicinella, fig. 14.

 

   ANODON. Brug. _Fam._ Submytilacea, Bl. Nayades, Lam. A genus composed

   of such species of NAYADES as are destitute of teeth on the hinge.

   Europe, North America, &c. An example is given in A. Cataractus, fig.

   152.

 

   ANOMALINA. D'Orb. A genus of microscopic Foraminifera.

 

   ANOMIA. _Fam._ Ostracea, Lam. and Bl.--_Descr._ Irregular, inequivalve,

   sub-equilateral, foliaceous, pearly within; adhering to marine

   substances by means of a bony appendage, which passes through a large

   circular opening in the lower valve; muscular impression divided into

   three irregular portions; hinge destitute of teeth with a short

   cartilage.--_Obs._ The Linnæan genus included not only the shells to

   which the description above given would apply, but also many other

   genera, such as Crania, Orbicula, Terebratula, &c. which belong to the

   Brachiopoda, and are perfectly distinct. The Anomiæ are found in

   Europe, N. America, Moluccas, Philippine Islands, &c. Fig. 186, in the

   plates, is a somewhat reduced representation of a full grown specimen

   of A. Ephippium. Fig. 187, the hinge of the under valve, with the bony

   process. Fig. 188, the hinge showing the opening through which it

   passes.

 

   ANOSTOMA. See ANASTOMA.

 

   ANSATES. Klein. A genus formed of those species of Patella which have a

   produced, recurved beak. Helcion, Montf. _Ex._ Patella pellucida, fig.

   230.

 

   ANSULUS or ANSYLUS. Mr. Gray conjectures that the name of the genus

   Ancylus, should be so written.

 

   ANTENOR. Montf. A genus of microscopic Foraminifera.

 

   ANTERIOR. In Bivalves is the side on which the head, or part analogous

   to the head of the animal lies; it is known in the shell by the

   umbones, which if turned at all, are turned towards that part. If there

   be a sinus in the impression of the mantle, it is always on the

   posterior part of the shell. If the ligament be placed only on one side

   of the umbones, it is only on the posterior side. The anterior of a

   _spiral univalve_ is that part of the outer lip which is at the