Zoological Illustrations Volume Ii Part 18

Pl. 109

[Ill.u.s.tration]

PAPILIO Harrisia.n.u.s.

GENERIC CHARACTER.--See Pl. 92.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

_P. (Troj. caud.) Alis atris, subtus maculis basalibus coccineis notatis, anticis supra maculo coccineo basali fasciaque alba, posticis obtuse caudatis fascia marginali maculis coccineis s.e.x insigni, fasciaque media alba ornatis._

Pap. (Troj. caud.) Wings black; anterior above with a red basal spot and white band; posterior obtusely tailed, with a marginal band of six crimson spots, and central white spot.

I can find neither figure nor description of this very rare Papilio. It does not accord with any contained in MM. Latreille's and G.o.dart's recent monograph of the genus. It was purchased at the sale of the late Mr.

Francillon's cabinet, by N. A. Vigors, Esq., whose valuable collections in every branch of Zoology are always open to the scientific inquirer. It is nearly allied to Pap. _Tros_, _Agavus_, _Ascarius_, and _Lysithous_ (G.o.dart), particularly to the latter; yet it is obviously distinct from either. These affinities lead me to think that it is a South American insect. The figures will render any addition to the specific character unnecessary.

I have named this insect to commemorate a most a.s.siduous and observing entomologist of the last age, Moses Harris, whose memory will be long cherished by our Aurelians, and to whom the scientific are indebted for the very accurate and excellent figures contained both in his own works, and in those of Drury; indeed, he appears the only English artist who has faithfully represented the short and nearly concealed _palpi_ peculiar to this genus. The son of this excellent artist[1], still follows the profession of his father, and, inheriting his abilities, deserves every encouragement that the small circle of English entomologists, as well as others, can give him.

Pl. 110

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CONUS cinctus,

_Purple tipped Admiral Cone._

GENERIC CHARACTER.--See Pl. 65.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

_C. testa supra carinata, fulva, fasciis duobus albidis ornata; spirae brevis, maculatae, basi depressa, anfractibus concavis sulcis duobus insculptis, sutura alveata; basi granosa, purpurea._

Sh.e.l.l above carinated, fulvous, with two whitish bands; spire short, spotted, the base depressed; the whorls concave with two depressed lines; suture channelled; base granulated, purple.

This is a very beautiful, and, at the same time, very rare sh.e.l.l; it formerly belonged to Mrs. Angus, at whose sale it pa.s.sed into the cabinet of Mr. Dubois. Its general appearance resembles very much that of _C.

Maldivus Lam._ known to our collectors by the name of the Spanish Admiral: the spire will, however, at once distinguish it; each volution is strongly concave in the middle, in which part are two or three delicate indented lines, very near each other, and following the volutions; the suture also is sufficiently open to be termed channelled; the spire is quite flattened at the base, (forming a sharp ridge round the top of the body whorl), and only prominent near the tip. In the Spanish Admiral Cone, the spire is quite smooth, the whorls being flat, and in all the specimens I have seen, (and they are many), the suture is quite closed up, though Lamarck (probably mistaking the present sh.e.l.l) says, "spira ca.n.a.liculata;" the base, moreover, is narrowed, smooth, and black; not gibbous, granulated, (or striated,) and purple, as in this sh.e.l.l.

A variety in my own cabinet presents some differences; the base is but slightly granulated, and the tip not purple; these are, however, subordinate characters, and const.i.tute it only a variety.

I shall take an early opportunity of pointing out the differences between _C. generalis_ and _Maldivus_, two sh.e.l.ls even more likely to be mistaken for each other than those above-mentioned.

Pl. 111

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CYPRaeA tessellata,

_Mosaic Cowry._

GENERIC CHARACTER.

"_Testa laevigata, ovata, convexa, marginibus involutis, apertura longitudinalis, angustata, utrinque dentata, ad extremitates effusa.

Spira minima, obtecta._"--LAM. Ann. du Mus. vol. 16. p. 443.

_Animal marinum (Pectinibranchi). Penula dilatata, testam omnino obtegens. Tentacula depressa, subulata. Oculi juxta tentaculorum basin externam adsiti._--ADANSON, H. N. du Senegal.

Sh.e.l.l smooth, oval, convex, the margins turned inward; aperture longitudinal, narrow, toothed on both sides, the extremities effuse.

Spire minute, concealed.--_Lamarck._

Animal marine; mantle dilated and folding over the whole sh.e.l.l.

Tentacula depressed, subulate, at the external base of which are the eyes.--_Adanson._

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

_C. testa obtusa, gibba, aurantiaca, ad latera tesseris albis fuscisque alternis tessellata._

Sh.e.l.l obtuse, gibbous, orange, the sides with alternate tessellated spots of white and brown.

Amidst all the changes in systematic arrangement which Conchology has, of late years, undergone, the _Cypraeae_ remain untouched; indeed, they present such a uniformity of character, that the most superficial observer cannot mistake them. A few species of Ovula, however, bear a strong resemblance to the genus, but may be known from not having teeth on each side the mouth.

The Cowries are without exception the most beautiful of all sh.e.l.ls, whether the richness and harmony of their colours, or the exquisite polish of their exterior, is considered; but (like many other things of more consequence) their beauty is depreciated by their frequency. The indefatigable Lamarck has described sixty-six species, only one of which inhabits the European seas. Adanson has furnished a minute account of the structure of the animal, and Bruguiere has given long and interesting details of its economy.