This genus, as established by Linnæus, included shells of different
families, promiscuously blended together, rendering it difficult to
determine satisfactorily respecting shells under examination. As
arranged and classified by Lamarck, it is still a numerous and beautiful
genus, containing some of the most rare and costly shells, particularly
V. Junonia or Peacock Volute, of which very few are known. They vary
considerably in size; some are very minute, and others large; they are
found chiefly in the seas of the torrid zone or southern hemisphere.
Shell oval, more or less ventricose; the first whorls of the spire
mamillose; aperture in general much more long than wide, strongly and
obliquely notched anteriorly; the right edge a little reflected, entire;
the columellar edge excavated, and adorned with great plaits, more or
less oblique, and a little variable in number with age.
Voluta nautica.
V. diadema.
V. armata.
V. ducalis.
V. tesselata.
V. Neptuni.
V. cymbium.
V. olla.
V. proboscidalis.
V. porcina.
V. Æthiopica.
V. melo.
V. imperialis.
V. pellis-serpentis.
V. vespertilio.
V. Hebræa.
V. musica.
V. chlorosina.
V. lævigata.
V. polyzonalis.
V. nodulosa.
V. magnifica.
V. ancilla.
V. Magellanica.
V. Pacifica.
V. fulminata.
V. Junonia.
V. scapha.
V. Brasiliana.
V. mitis.
V. nivosa.
V. serpentina.
V. thiarella.
V. carneolata.
V. Guinaica.
V. fulva.
V. sulcata.
V. nucleus.
V. undulata.
V. lapponica.
V. vexillum.
V. volvacea.
V. festiva.
V. mitræformis.
_V. Æthiopica._ The Æthiopian Volute. Pl. 30, fig. 2.
Species large, oval, convex, ventricose; spire papillary, with whorls
coronated with elevated hollow spines.
_V. musica._ The music Volute.
Species oval, marked like musical notes set in scores on its surface;
spire sub-tuberculated.
_V. Magellanica._ The Magellan Volute.
Species sub-fusiform, elongated, and sub-turreted; no spines or
tubercles on the whorls.