"Our next family, Scalariana, contains the genera
| Vermetus. | |
| Scalaria | Turbo. |
| Delphinula | Turbo. |
"The single species of the first genus, Vermetus lumbricalis, inhabits the sea near to Senegal. The shell is tubular, thin, twisted spirally; it is fixed on marine substances by the end of its thin, pointed spire. The shells are usually found in groups.
"The genus Scalaria is one of the most elegant among univalve shells. The singularity of the numerous ribs renders the shells easily known from all other genera of turreted Mollusca. The aperture is nearly round, the whorls gibbous, or inflated with carinated ribs: the colour is usually pink or white. It is very costly. ([Plate 9.]) These shells are brought from the East Indies.
"The fossil species are very elegant: they are found in the strata above the chalk.
"Two other species are common, S. communis and S. lamellosa. The first is a British species, and is called the false Wentletrap.
DELPHINULA.
SOLARIUM.
"The shells of the genus Delphinula are solid, thick, somewhat discoid, often armed with spines, without any apparent columella. The recent species inhabit the Indian Ocean. There are several fossil species of Delphinula.