Monograph of Vitrinella : a new genus of new species of Turbinidæ

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VITRINELLA,

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A NEW GENUS OF NEW SPECIES OF TURBINIDA,

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By C”B. ADAMS, A. M. wiht
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_ FELLOW OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, CORRESP.
~~ MEMB. OF THE NAT. HIST. SOC. OF NURMBERG, OF THE ACAD. NAT.
SC. OF PHILADELPHIA, OF THE BOST. SOC. NAT. HIST, OF THE
LYCEUM OF NAT. HIST. IN NEW YORK CITY, OF THE ; mee)
ENTOM. SOC. OF PENNSYLVANIA, HON. MEMB. OF ~ ; ae
THE JAMAICA society, &e. &e. &e. ro . ,

COLLEG

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AMUERST, MASSACHUSETTS
FEBRUARY, 1850.

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VITRINELLA ADAMS.

Testa turbiniformi, minima, vitrea; apertura maxima, orbiculari,
subtus valde indentata, vel umbilicata.

Shell turbiniform, vitreous, minute, with a large orbicular
aperture, either umbilicated or with the umbilical region deeply
and widely indented.

The form of the aperture would place these shells in Turbo
or Margarita. The want of an umbilicus excludes three of
the species from the latter. The operculum is unknown ; but
as it is extremely improbable that thin vitreous almost transpa-
rent shells should have solid calcareous opercula, we may as-
sume it to be horny, which will exclude the species from Tur-
bo, regarding this genus as best characterized by the opercu-
lum. The most widely umbilicated species approximates in form
to Skenea,and might be mistaken fora depressed umbilicated
species of Helix. In texture, the nearest approach among the
kindred genera is in Margarita arctica Leach. From all the
Turbinide known to us, they are however well distinguished by
their vitreous texture and rapid enlargement of the whorls,

which last character produces a large aperture. The variation

4

in respect of an umbilicus is parallel with the similar variation
in Turbo. They are not the young of any larger species, for
the first one or one and one-half whorls are distinguished from
the following whorls by nuclear peculiarities, as want of sculp-
ture, &c. We are acquainted with the young of all the larger
species which inhabit the same localities, and none of them re-
semble these shells.

Most of the specimens were obtained from a pint of sand,
which contained 110 species of shells, and which was taken
from a surface of three or four square yards of sand beach in a
little cove near Port Royal, Jamaica, on the outside of the pe-
ninsula. A few were found on the inside of the peninsula.
Of V. megastoma and V. interrupta we obtained several speci-
mens: of the other species,—one to four of each. Probably

all the species are rare.

TABLE OF MEASUREMENTS.

Bln |e? | “ill eae RB a
SPl Ss 2slesl|e ol cioed é
2 Sloale eles l2allwels sleales
GOES eS sls sie ale els als s
5) H a) oO a
= SAF 8/6 SF Slag Slog As
b=]
V. hyalina. 95°).02 |.05 |.065/ .055//.508 [1.27 |1.65 |1.397

V. interrupta. |100°}.015].035] 045] .038]/.381] .889 1.142}.965
V. megastoma. |130°).01 |.033) .06 | .045 |.254 | .838]1.524/1.142

V. tincta. 135°}.015].035] .055| .045]}.381 | .889/1.397)1.142

V. helicoidea. [150°|.01 |.03 | .075|.06 |/.254| .762/1.906)1.524

inch. millimetres.

pel

or

Vitxinella hyalina. Adams.

V. t. globosa, alba, subtransparente, lacvi, nitida: apiece obtusa :
spira convexa, elevaté: anfractibus quatuor, perconyexis, sutura im-
pressa, anf. ultimo magno, regulariter rotundato, subtus valde inden-

tato.

Globose :

white, subtransparent :

smooth and shining :

apex obtuse :

spire with the outlines very convex:

whorls four, very convex, with a well impressed suture ; last
whorl rather large and regularly rounded :

aperture slightly modified by the penult whorl:

umbilical region well indented.

Mean divergence about 95°; length of spire .02 inch ; total
length .05 inch; greatest breadth ,065 inch ; least breadth .055

inch.

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Vitrinella interrupta. A.dams.

~—_~___~_—-_*_—~-_»- eres

V. t. globosa, subconica, alba, subtransparente: sulcis elevatis tri-
bus supra, et suleis minoribus quinque vel sex subtvs, spiralibus in-
sculpta ; striis transversis candidis subdistantibus a sulcis interruptis
ornata: apice perobtusa: spira elevaté, convexa: anfractibus qua-
tuor, convexis, sutura haud valde impressa ; anf. ultimo magno, reg-

ulariter rotundato, subtus laté et profundé indentato.

Depressed globose conic :
white, subtransparent in the last whorl:

with three rather large more or less elevate 1 spiral grooves
above, and five or six of less size beneath; with somewhat
distant opaque white transverse striz, which arc interrupted by
the spiral grooves :

apex very obtuse :

spire with very convex outlines :

whorls four, quite convex, with a moderately impressed su-
ture ; last whorl rather large, rapidly increasing, well rounded :

aperture scarcely modified by the penult whorl:

umbilical region widely and deeply indented.

Mean divergence about 100°; length of spire .015 inch ; total
length .035 inch ; greatest breadth .045 inclr; least breadth .088

inch.

Vitrinella megastoma Adams.

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V. t. depressd, transversé ovata, alba, translucente, laevi, nitida :
apice obtusd: spira convexd anfractibus tribus, subconvexis, sutura
conspicué; anf. ultimo prope aperturam maximo, regulariter rotun-
dato,

Much depressed, transversely ovate :

white, translucent:

smooth and shining :

apex very obtuse:

spire convex, but little elevated :

whorls a little more than three, moderately: convex, witha
distinct suture ; last whorl very large, rapidly increasing in the
last part, well rounded :

aperture scarcely modified by the last whorl :

umbilical region very widely and deeply indented.

Mean divergence about 130°; length of spire .01 inch;

total length .033 inch; greatest breadth .06 inch, least breadth
.045 inch.

Vitrinella tincta. Adams.

V. t. subdiscoidea: alba, anfractum ultimum rubro tineta, striis
plurimis et carinis duobus parvis cinctd: apice obtusa; spira con-
vexa: anfractibus tribus, valde accrescentibus, suturd impressd: um-
bilico profundo.

Globose discoidal :

white, translucent, with stains of reddish purple on the last
whorl :

with numerous spiral striae, and two small distant revolving
carine on either side of the periphery of the last whorl:

apex obtuse :

spire convex, but little elevated :

whorls three, rapidly increasing from the first, with a well
impressed suture ; last whorl somewhat concave beneath the
lower carina :

aperture scarcely modified by the last whorl :

umbilicus deep, not very wide.

Mean divergence about 135°; length of spire .015 inch ;
total length .035 inch; greatest breadth .055 inch; least
breadth .045 inch.

Vitrinella helicoidea. Adams.

V. t. discoidea, alba, opaca vel translucente, lined suturali impres-
sa, et striis transversis inequalibus insculpta: apice perobtusd: spira
convexa, vix elevata: anfractibus quatuor, subconvexis ,valde accres-
centibus; sutura vix impressa : labio suberasso: umbilico magno, pro-

fundo, carina spirali instructo.

Discoidal :

white, opaque and translucent in transverse alternating lines :

with a single impressed spiral line near the summit of the
whorls, and very fine irregular transverse striz :

apex very obtuse :

spire slightly and convexly elevated :

whorls four, moderately convex, rapidly increasing, with a
lightly impressed suture ; last whorl regularly rounded, a little
compressed beneath.

aperture net modified by the last whorl :

labium with a rather thick deposit :

umbilicus Jarge and deep, with a spiral carina, exhibiting all
the whorls.

Mean divergence about 150°; length of spire .01 inch ; total
length .03 inch ; greatest breadth .075 inch; least breadth .06

inch.

10

“ CONTRIBUTIONS TO ConcnoLoGy ” are issued by the subscriber, at irregular
intervals of time, in numbers of 16 or 20 pp. each.

They are devoted chiefly to a description of new species of the shells of Ja-
maica, preliminary toa monograph of the shells of that island : but any additions
to conchology or malacology come within their plan.

Copies will hereafter be furnished only to subscribers, at one do}lar for five num-
bers, or in return for books, pamphlets, or specimens presented to the Zoological
department in Amherst College, or to public institutions which have once ac-
knowledged the receipt of a copy.

gG>The shells, which were collected in my last expedition to Jamaica, belong
to the Zoological Museum of Amherst College. The Trustees of the College
have directed the sale of a part of the duplicates. Suites, either of all or of one
or more genera of the land and fresh-water shells, will be furnished at 30 cents per
species : or selections may be made at a fixed price for each species, and the re-
mainder returned. The marine shells will be furnished at 25 cents per species,
without distinction except in favor of priority of application. A catalogue of
all the marine species will soon be published.

25 cents per species will also be paid for any number of authentically named
shells, which are not in the Zool. Mus. of this college.

The species of Jamaica shells may also be had on exchange, provided that a
list of the species, which can be furnished by any correspondent, shall be first com-
municated to the subscriber for selection of desiderata, for which only will a re-
turn be made, Parcels sent without regard to this rule will be considered as do-
nations to the Museum, and may be sent, if through New York City,’to care of J.
H. Redfield, Esq., 82 Courtland Street, New York. If not through New York,
they may come by express, via Northampton, Mass.

C. B. ADAMS, Amunrsz, Mass.

INIAN INSTITUTION LIBRAR}

WA 1

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