Zoological Illustrations Volume Ii Part 19

Mrs. Mawe is in possession of this very beautiful little sh.e.l.l; a string of them were presented her as coming from New Zealand: that which formed the centre was the only perfect specimen, and from that the figures were taken.

Pl. 112

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CONUS carinatus,

_Carinated Cone._

GENERIC CHARACTER.--See Pl. 65.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

_C. testa sub-cylindracea, carinata, fulva; spirae depressae, concavae, maculatae, apice acuto, anfractibus valde concavis, striis numerosis subgranosis insculptis; basi obtusa, striata, cingulo gibbo circ.u.mdata_.

Sh.e.l.l nearly cylindrical, carinated, fulvous; spire depressed, concave, spotted, tip acute, the whorls very concave, with numerous subgranulated striae; base obtuse, striated, with a gibbous belt.

Another rare and remarkable sh.e.l.l of this numerous genus, from the same collection as the Cone last described. I believe it to be hitherto unfigured, and unknown to any writer; for I cannot reconcile it with any of Lamarck's descriptions of species not yet represented.

I know of no other specimen than the very fine one in Mr. Dubois' cabinet.

The sh.e.l.l is heavy; the body whorl contracted at the upper part, where the margin is sharply carinated; the spire much depressed and concave; each volution is also concave, and has from three to four fine grooves, which occupy its full extent, and which appear minutely granulated; but this is only caused by the longitudinal lines of growth: the tip of the spire acute; the base is wider in circ.u.mference than usual, with a gibbous belt marked by elevated striae, in other respects the sh.e.l.l is smooth; the base of the aperture is effuse, the bands on the body whorl pale and not well defined, and the spire slightly spotted. It is doubtless an inhabitant of the Asiatic ocean.

Pl. 113

[Ill.u.s.tration]

MITRA pertusa. var.

_Cardinal Mitre_--_large spotted variety_.

GENERIC CHARACTER.--See Pl. 23.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

_M. sect. 3. Testa ovato-acuta, alba; striis transversis puncticulatis ornata, anfractu basali cra.s.so, tesseris parvis plurimis spadiceis vittato, tesserisque majoribus bifasciato; labio exteriore denticulato._

M. Sh.e.l.l ovate-acute, white, with transverse punctured striae; the basal whorl thick, with numerous bands consisting of small, and two of large tessellated spots; outer lip toothed.

Much uncertainty exists respecting the sh.e.l.l which Linnaeus intended for his _Voluta pertusa_, owing to the inaccuracy of the synonyms, which refer to species widely different from each other; the majority of authors have, however, considered it to be the sh.e.l.l figured by Born and Martini, under that name, and recently by myself in _Exotic Conchology_. As a species, it is princ.i.p.ally distinguished by the rows of irregular brown spots which are always disposed in transverse bands, running into larger blotches adjoining the suture, and near the base of the body whorl, which is thick and obtuse; the lesser spots are mostly tessellated or quadrangular, but in size they vary considerably in different individuals, and even in the same sh.e.l.l; this has induced Lamarck to separate them into two species, but which, for reasons to be hereafter given, appears to me unnecessary.

The variety here figured is very rare, nor have I seen more than two examples; it differs only from the usual varieties in having the spots remarkably large. In a future plate this species will be further ill.u.s.trated, and the correct synonyms of all the varieties then given.

Inhabits various parts of the Asiatic ocean.

Pl. 114

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CONUS pulch.e.l.lus,

_Orange Admiral Cone._

GENERIC CHARACTER.--See Pl. 65.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

_C. testa aurantiaca, fasciis albis interruptis ornata; spirae subdepressae, anfractibus suturam juxta simpliciter sulcatis; sutura alveata; basi granosa, purpurea._

Sh.e.l.l orange, with two interrupted white bands; spire slightly depressed, the volutions with a single groove near the margin; suture channelled; base granulated and purple.

I cannot find this very beautiful sh.e.l.l enumerated among the new and unfigured species known to Lamarck; and the representations given by the oldest conchologists of this intricate family, are too inaccurate to be cited without much risk.

In form it approaches nearest to _Conus vitulinus_ of Bruguiere, having the spire not quite depressed, each volution being slightly raised above the last, gradually to the apex; the upper margin of the body whorl is convex: each volution of the spire has a broad and deep groove nearest the upper edge, which thus becomes elevated, while the convexity of the lower part of the whorl forms a channel round the suture, which separates it from the next; this formation of the spire is very remarkable, and unlike what I have seen in any other Cone. Another distinguis.h.i.+ng character is, that the whole sh.e.l.l is crossed by very faint, broad, and almost imperceptible punctured lines, very near each other; in some parts discernible with the naked eye, in others almost obliterated by the longitudinal lines of growth: the granulations towards the base are very sharp and nearly white, and the base itself crossed with rough, thick-set, elevated striae. No doubt the colour of this species will be found to vary, when more specimens are discovered. The only one I have ever seen, came with some other very rare sh.e.l.ls from Amboyna, and is in my own collection.

If the descriptions of _C. ca.n.a.liculatus_ (Malaca.n.u.s Brug.) be correct, (for it is a sh.e.l.l I have not seen), it must be quite distinct.

Pl. 115

[Ill.u.s.tration]