This genus of shells is truly beautiful; it was classed by Linnæus with
the Buccinum, but Lamarck considered that they were, for their beauty,
worthy of forming a genus by themselves.
Shell oval, inflated, rather thin, with longitudinal parallel ribs,
formed by the preservation of the thickening of the right margin; the
spire very short, pointed, the last whorl much longer than all the
others together; aperture large, ovate, widely notched anteriorly; the
right edge much excavated and thickened outwardly; the columella smooth,
and terminated in a point anteriorly.
Harpa imperialis.
H. ventricosa.
H. conoidalis.
H. nobilis.
H. articularis.
H. rosea.
H. minor.
H. striata.
_H. imperialis._ The imperial Harp.
Species in which the number of ribs far exceeds that of any other, and
occasions it often to be called the many-ridged harp; a small spiral
keel round the summit. A rare and valuable species.
_H. nobilis._ The noble Harp. Pl. 29, fig. 2.
A regular species.
_H. rosea._ The roseate Harp.
Oblong-ovate; flesh coloured, with roseate interrupted bands; ribs
remote; columella of a fine rosy hue.