A Conchological Manual by George Brettingham Sowerby (best interesting books to read txt) 📕

wing; [Greek: keras],

   _ceras_, horn.) _Fam._ Ailées, Lam.--_Descr._ Turrited, oval,

   ventricose, thick, tuberculated; spire short; aperture oval,

   terminating in a lengthened canal at both extremities; outer lip

   thickened, expanded, produced into horn-shaped, hollow, thickened

   spires, with an anterior sinus apart from the canal.--_Obs._ This

   genus, containing the shells commonly called Devil's Claws, Gouty

   Scorpions, Spiders, &c. is distinguished from Strombus by the

   digitations of the outer lip. No fossil species are known. Fig. 405, P.

   aurantiaca.

 

   PTEROCYCLOS. Benson. Syn. B. M. p. 133. A genus formed of species of

   Cyclostoma, Auct. which have "a groove or hole at the hinder part of

   the mouth."

 

   PTEROPODA. Lam. ([Greek: Pteron], _pteron_, a wing; [Greek: pous],

   _pous_, a foot.) The first order of the class Mollusca, Lam. consisting

   of molluscs whose organs of locomotion consist of a pair of wing-shaped

   fins. This order contains the genera Hyalæa, Clio, Cleodora,

   Spiratella, Cymbulia, and Pneumoderma. To which may be added other

   genera enumerated in explanation of figures 220 to 226. They may be

   thus distinguished.

 

ATLANTA. Shaped like Nautilus, symmetrical. Fig. 220.

 

SPIRATELLA. Spiral, not symmetrical. Fig. 224.

 

CRESEIS. Straight, thorn-shaped. Fig. 222.

 

VAGINULA. Straight, widened in the centre; apex pointed. Fig.

       225.

 

CUVIERIA. The same; apex blunt. Fig. 223.

 

CLEODORA. Aperture with three spines; apex recurved. Fig. 221.

 

HYALÆA. Vaulted, open extremity, three-cornered; apex

       tridentate. Fig. 226.

 

   PTEROPODA. Bl. The second family of Nucleobranchiata, Bl. the shells of

   which are described as symmetrical, extremely thin, transparent,

   longitudinally enrolled, either forwards or backwards. The animals are

   remarkable for a pair of broad, flat, natatory organs or membranaceous

   fins, from which the family derives its name. It contains, in the

   system of De Blainville, the genera Atlanta, Spiratella, and Argonauta,

   to which may probably be added PHARETRIUM, König; ENTALIS, Defrance.

 

   PULLASTRA. Sow. _Fam._ Conques Marines, Lam.--_Descr._ Equivalve, ovate

   or oblong, transverse, inequilateral; hinge with three diverging

   cardinal teeth in each valve, notched at the terminations; muscular

   impressions two in each valve; palleal impression having a large sinus;

   ligament external, partly hidden by the dorsal margin.--_Obs._ This

   genus includes the Venerirupes of Lamarck, and several species of his

   Veneres, they are found in the sand on the shores of temperate and

   tropical climates. Fig. 120, P. textile.

 

   PULMONOBRANCHIATA. Bl. The first order of the first section of

   Paracephalophora monoica, containing the families Limnacea,

   Auriculacea, and Limacinea.

 

   PULVINITES. Defr. (_Pulvinus_, a cushion.) _Fam._ Malleacea,

   Lam.--_Descr._ Sub-equivalve, inequilateral, compressed, thin, slightly

   gaping posteriorly; one valve flat, the other rather concave; hinge

   linear, short, divided into perpendicular grooves; muscular impressions

   two, one sub-central, the other above it, nearer the hinge.--_Obs._

   This fossil shell is imperfectly known, and it is difficult to give a

   sufficient reason for separating it from Perna. It comes from the

   Baculite limestone of Normandy. Fig. 170, P. Adansonii.

 

   PUNCTATED. (_Punctatus_, spotted or dotted.) For example, see Conus

   Nussatella. Fig. 460.

 

   PUNCTICULIS. Sw. A sub-genus of "Coronaxis," Sw. (Conus) described in

   Swainson's Malacology, page 311.

 

   PUNCTURELLA. Lowe. CEMORIA, Leach.

 

   PUPA. Auct. _Fam._ Colimacea, Lam.; Limacinea, Bl.--_Descr._

   Cylindrical, generally ribbed; spire long, obtuse, composed of numerous

   slowly increasing whorls; aperture sub-quadrate, rounded anteriorly,

   entire; outer lip thickened; columella plaited.--_Obs._ This genus is

   composed of land shells very variable in form, differing from Bulinus

   in the numerous slowly increasing whorls of the spire, and in the plicæ

   on the columella, and from Clausilia in the want of a clausium.

   Britain, Southern Europe, East and West Indies, Mexico, &c. P. Uva.

   Fig. 291.

 

   PUPELLA. Sw. A sub-genus of Clausilia. Lardn. Cyclop. Malac. p. 334.

 

   PUPILLA. Leach. A sub-genus of Pupa, P. marginata, Auct. (Gray's

   Turton, p. 196.)

 

   PUPINA. Vignard. MOULINSIA, Grateloup. _Fam._ Colimacea, Lam.--_Descr._

   Pupiform, sub-cylindrical; last whorl less than the preceding; surface

   brilliantly polished; suture of the spire enamelled; aperture circular;

   peritreme thickened; a notch at the base of the inner lip; operculum

   horny, spiral.--_Obs._ The species upon which this genus was originally

   founded, and described in the "Annal des Sciences Naturelles," tome 18,

439, (December 1829,) is a small pupiform shell, having nothing to

   distinguish it but the enamelled suture and the notch in the aperture;

   characters quite insufficient in themselves for the purpose of generic

   distinction; at the same time sufficient to lead M. De Ferussac to the

   suspicion of its having an operculum. The next species, described by

   Grateloup under the name of Moulinsia Nunezii, (Ann. Soc. Linn. Burd,

   Nov. 1840), presents more remarkable characters, having the spire

   turned backwards and the penultimate whorl disproportionately large.

   Seven additional species have been lately brought to this country from

   the Philippine Islands by Mr. Cuming. They will be described by the

   author in the Zoological Proceedings for 1841, and an illustrated

   monograph of the whole genus is published in the Thesaurus

   Conchyliorum, Part I, by the Author. It may be observed that in one of

   the new species, the notch in the peritreme almost disappears, leaving

   a very slight sinus. Fig. 524, 526, 527, 528.

 

   PURPURA. Auct. ("_The shell-fish from which purple is taken_," Plin.)

   _Fam._ Purpurifera, Lam. Entomostomata, Bl.--_Descr._ Oval or oblong,

   thick; spire for the most part short, sometimes rather longer; external

   surface generally sulcated, granulated, tuberculated or muricated;

   aperture long, oval, somewhat dilated, emarginated anteriorly; outer

   lip crenated, acute; columella flattened; operculum horny, with the

   nucleus lateral, thin towards the columella.--_Obs._ True Purpuræ to be

   found in the Lamarckian genera Buccinum, Ricinula, and others. They may

   be generally distinguished by the flatness of the columellar lip, and

   by the short canal or emargination, which is not reflected or raised,

   as in Buccinum. The species are very numerous and very variable in

   form, inhabiting the seas of temperate and tropical climates. The

   animals secrete a purple liquor, which has been used advantageously for

   dyeing; the origin of the famous Tyrian dye. Fig. 414, P. persica.

 

   PURPURIFERA. Lam. (_Purpura_, purple; _fero_, to carry.) A family

   belonging to the second section of Lamarck's order Trachelipoda, the

   shells of which are described as having a very short recurved, or

   ascending canal, or else only a notch between the inner and outer lips.

   The name Purpurifera has been given to the family because the animals

   which it includes, and particularly the genus Purpura, contain the

   colouring matter from which the ancients obtained the well known

   splendid purple. This family contains the following genera.

 

CASSIS. Outer lip thick, reflected, denticulated, canal turned

       suddenly over the back; spire short; including _Cassidea_ and

       _Cypræcassis_. Fig. 410 to 412.

 

CASSIDARIA. Canal turned gently upwards. Fig. 407, 408.

 

ONISCIA. Inner lip granulated; canal short. Fig. 409.

 

BUCCINUM. Outer lip thickened not reflected; canal short;

       including _Cyllene_ and _Phos._ Fig. 416, 421, 422, 425.

 

NASSA. The same, with a notch or tooth at the extremity of the

       columella; including _Cyclops_. Fig. 423, 424.

 

DOLIUM. Swelled, grooved spirally; outer lip not reflected. Fig.

       420.

 

PURPURA. Aperture large; columellar lip flat; including

       Tritonidea. Fig. 414, 415.

 

MONOCEROS. The same, with a tooth on the outer lip. Fig. 417.

 

CONCHOLEPAS. Patelliform; aperture as large as the shell. Fig.

       417.

 

RICINULA. Columellar and outer lips granulated, denticulated,

       outer lip digitated; including _Tribulus_. Fig. 413.

 

TRICHOTROPIS. Hairs on the epidermis, along the keels. Fig.

       429.

 

TEREBRA. Elongated, with a spiral groove near the suture of the

       whorls. Fig. 428.

 

BULLIA. Short; aperture wide; outer lip marginated. Fig. 427.

 

EBURNA. Like Buccinum, but the outer lip not thickened. Fig.

       426.

 

HARPA. With varices at regular intervals. Fig. 419.

 

   PUSIA. Sw. A sub-genus of Tiara (Mitra.) (Sw. Malac. p. 320.)

 

   PUSIODON. Sw. A genus of "Lucerninæ," Sw. (Helix) thus described:

   "Shell flattened, smooth; the body-whorl large, and much dilated at the

   aperture; spire small, flat, of three or four contracted whorls;

   aperture very oblique, sinuated, or obsoletely toothed at the base of

   the outer lip, which is spreading and sub-reflected; inner lip

   obsolete; umbilicus open. Zonaria Chemn. 132. f. 1188. auriculata Zool.

   Ill. I. pl. 6." Sw. Malac. p. 330.

 

   PUSIOSTOMA. Sw. A genus of the family "Columbellinæ." Sw. Thus

   described: "general form of Columbella, but the outer lip is only

   toothed in the middle, where it is greatly thickened; inner lip convex

   between the granular teeth; punctata, E. M. 374. f. 4. mendicaria, 375.

10. turturina, 314. f. 2. fulgurans. Lam." Sw. Malac. p. 313.

 

   PUSTULARIA. Sw. A genus of "Cypræinæ," Sw. thus described: "Shell

   generally marked by elevated pustules; aperture narrow and linear; the

   extremities more or less produced; the teeth continued beyond, and

   frequently forming elevated striæ across the lips. P. Cicercula, P.

   Globulus." Sw. Malac. p. 324.

 

   PYGMÆA. Humph. COLUMBELLA, Auct.

 

   PYLORIDEA. Bl. The ninth family of the order Lamellibranchiata, Bl. the

   shells of which are described as nearly always regular, rarely

   otherwise, nearly always equivalve, gaping at both extremities; hinge

   incomplete, the teeth becoming gradually obsolete; two distinct

   muscular impressions; palleal impression very flexuous posteriorly.

   This family is divided into: Section 1. Ligament internal; Pandora,

   Thracia, Anatina, Mya, Lutricola. Section 2. Ligament external;

   Psammocola, Soletellina, Solen, Sanguinolaria, Solenocurtus, Solenimya,

   Panopæa, Glycimeris, Saxicava, Byssomya, Rhomboides, Hiatella,

   Gastrochæna, Clavagella, Aspergillum.

 

   PYRAMIDAL. (_Pyramidalis._) Resembling a pyramid in form. _Ex._

   Cerithium Telescopium, fig. 378.

 

   PYRAMIDELLA. Lam. (_A little pyramid._) _Fam._ Plicacea, Lam.

   AURICULACEA, Bl.--_Descr._ Pyramidal, smooth, polished; spire long,

   pointed, composed of numerous whorls; aperture small, modified by the

   last whorl, rounded anteriorly; outer lip slightly expanded; columella

   tortuous, with several folds. This is a genus of small, polished,

   marine shells. Pyramidella Terebellum, fig. 342.

 

   PYRAZUS. Montf. POTAMIS, Brongniart.

 

   PYRELLA. Sw. A genus consisting of Turbinella Spirilla, Auct. and

   similar species, having a long channel, a pyriform outline, and one

   strong plait at the base of the columella, the apex of the spire is

   enlarged. P. Spirillus, fig. 384. (The proper term would be Spirilla.)

 

   PYRIFORM. (_Pyrum_, a pear; _forma_, shape.) Shaped like a pear, i. e.

   large and rounding at one end, and gradually tapering at the other.

   _Ex._ Pyrula, fig. 390.

 

   PYRGO. Defr. A genus of microscopic Foraminifera.

 

   PYRGOMA. Auct. ([Greek: Purgos], _pyrgus_, a tower.) _Order_, Sessile

   Cirripedes, Lam.--_Descr._ Composed of a single conical, hollow paries,

   with a small aperture closed by an operculum of four valves, and

   supported upon a cup-shaped base.--_Obs._ The genera into which Leach

   has divided this genus are Pyrgoma, Adna, and Megatrema; his genera

   Nobia and Savignium differ in having but two valves for the operculum.

   Pyrgoma differs from Creusia in having the body of the shell, i. e. the

   parietal cone, simple, not divided into valves. Fig. 31.

 

   PYRGOPOLON. De Montfort's figure of this genus appears as if it had

   been drawn from the nucleus of a Belemnite.

 

   PYRULA. Auct. (_A little pear._) _Fam._ Canalifera, Lam.

   Siphonostomata, Bl.--_Descr._ Thin, oblong, pyriform, ventricose

   towards the spire, gradually tapering towards the anterior of the

   aperture, spire short, consisting of few volutions; aperture wide,

   terminating in a long, narrow, open, canal; columella smooth, elegantly

   tortuous.--_Obs._ The above description includes all the true Fig

   shells, which present a most graceful form; the contour partaking of

   the peculiar curve, called by painters the line of beauty. P. Ficus,

   fig. 390.

 

   PYRUM. Humph. PYRULA, Lam.

 

   QUADRATE. (_Quadratus._) Square, applied when the outline of shells is

   formed by nearly straight lines meeting at right angles.

 

   QUADRILATERAL. Four-sided.

 

   QUINQUELOCULINA. D'Orbigny. A genus of microscopic Foraminifera.

 

   RADIATING. (_Radians._) A term applied to the ribs, striæ, bands of

   colours, &c. when they meet in a point at the umbones of a bivalve

   shell, and spread out towards the ventral margin.--_Ex._ The bands of

   colour in Tellina radiata, fig. 105.

 

   RADICATED. (_Radix_, a root.) Attached, and as it were rooted by means

   of a fibrous byssus.

 

   RADIOLATA. Lam. A family belonging to the order Cephalopoda, Lam. The

   shells belonging to it are described as discoidal, with the spire

   central, and the chambers radiating from the centre to the

   circumference. This family contains the genera Rotalina, Lenticulina,

   and Placentula.

 

   RADIOLITES. A genus belonging to the family of Rudistes, differing from

   Sphærulites, in having both the valves more conical.

 

   RADIUS. Montf. A genus composed of OVULUM Volva, Auct. and other

   similar species, having a long attenuated canal at each extremity. Fig.

   442.

 

   RADIX. Montf. A genus composed of species of LIMNÆA, having a short

   spire and wide aperture.--_Ex._ L. aperta, fig. 309.

 

   RAMIFIED. (_Ramus_, a branch.) Branched out.--_Ex._ The varices of