Zoological Illustrations, Volume 1: or, Original Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, or Interesting AnimalsSwainson, William
Science
Zoological Illustrations, Volume 1: or, Original Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, or Interesting Animals
Swainson, William
Animals -- Pictorial works
A. Shell cinereous-white, with two narrow brown bands, spire elongated,
straight; volutions seven, slightly ventricose, inner lip rosy, base of
the columella straight, entire, aperture ovate-oblong.
OBS. another specimen of A. pallida quite agreeing with this, is in Mr.
Dubois' cabinet.
* * * * *
The species of this and one or two other genera of land-shells are subject
to such variability in their colouring, that it becomes extremely difficult
to ascertain which are species and which varieties. The shell now figured
might, on a cursory glance, very well pass for one of the Protean varieties
of the Linnaean _Bulla fasciata_; but a comparison with that shell will at
once point out the strong specific difference that exists between them in
the formation of the mouth. In this, the lower half of the inner lip, or
more properly the pillar, is nearly straight; the base entire, or without
any notch or truncated appearance: whereas in the true _A. fasciata_, the
inner lip at the base is very much curved inward, and notched before it
joins the outer lip. The mouth is also short and broad: whereas in this it
is much more oblong, and the base round. Other more obvious characters
exist in the form of the whorls, spire, and more particularly in the
colour, of these two shells; but these are in comparison of minor
importance.
I regret having but one example of this shell, as it prevents me from
tracing how far the characters here detailed hold good in other specimens.
They are such, however, as, I think, fully to justify the propriety of
considering it a species.
Its locality is unknown.
I have little doubt more than one species exist among the supposed
varieties of the true _Bulla fasciata_ of Linn., which I take to be the
shell figured by Lister.
* * * * *
Pl. 42
[Illustration]
OLIVA Braziliana,
_Brazilian Olive_
* * * * *
GENERIC CHARACTER.
_Testa cylindrica, polita; spira conica, acuminata, brevissima; labium
exterius simplex, interius incrassatum, tumidum; columella plicis
numerosis gracilibus; apertura basi truncata, emarginata._
Typus Genericus _Voluta Porphyrea_ Lin.
Shell cylindrical, polished, spire conic acuminated, very short; outer
lip simple, inner lip thickened, tumid, columella with numerous slender
plaits, aperture at the base truncatedly emarginate.
Generic Type _Voluta Porphyrea_ Lin.
* * * * *
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
_O. testa coniformi, lata; apertura effusa, labio interiore tumida
callositate super spiram extendente._
Shell coniform, broad; aperture effuse, tumid callosity on the inner
lip large, and spreading over the spire.
Oliva Braziliensis. _Martini p._ 130, _tab._ 147 _&_ 8, 1367 _&_ 8.
Oliva Braziliana. _Lamarck._
Voluta pinguis. _Dill._ 516. 36.
* * * * *
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