Family Volutidæ. Sub-family Mitriana. Nob.
Generic Character.
Shell smooth, polished, sub-fusiform, the base obtuse and effuse; the plaits of the pillar oblique, and extending far beyond the aperture; outer lip internally smooth, the margin entire. Nobis.
Types of form.
1. M. fissuella. 2. casta. bicolor. 3. Olivæformis.
Specific Character.
Shell entirely brown, marked by bands of punctured dots; spire and aperture nearly equal.
The natural situation of this group, in its own circle of affinity, has already been shewn; it connects, in the most satisfactory manner, the genus Mitra, as now restricted, with that of Conohelix, and opens at the same time a passage to the Olives. The species yet discovered are few, and hence we yet can only trace three types of form; the first evidently representing Mitra, and the third, probably, typifying Conohelix. M. Olivaria Lam., which truly belongs to this genus, may, perhaps, be only a modification of the 2nd type, to which our present species strictly belongs. The representation of this group among the Volutes, will be found in Voluta Zebra and its allies.