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236 MOLLUSCA FROM MIOCENE AND LOWER PLIOCENE OF VIRGINIA AND NOR.TH CAROLINA
Conrad's type was used in making the description
just given. It seems to differ :frmn Ptyohosalpinw wu.ltirugata
(Conrad) chiefly in the :feeble axial sculpture
and more numerous spiral lirations, both o:f them dubious
specific diagnostics in this genus. Ptyohosalpinm
fossulata (Conrad) is not represented in the later
collections.
Distribution: Yorktown formation, Yorktown, York County,
Va. (Harris).
Ptychosalpinx tuomeyi (H. C. Lea)
Plate 31, figure 18
1846. Buccinum tuomeyi H. C. Lea, Am. Philos. Soc. Trans.,
1st ser., vol. 9, p. 271, pl. 37, fig. 97.
1863. Tritia tuomeyi H. C. Lea. Conrad, Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia
Proc. for 1862, p. 562.
1892. PtychosalpinflJ tuomeyi H. C. Lea. Dall, Wagner Free
Inst. Sci. Trans., vol. 3, pt. 2, p. 237.
Shell ovately fusiform, thick, imporforate, striate; spire elevated,
scalariform; sutures impressed, deep; whorls somewhat
convex, angulate at the upper suture; striae transverse, double,
numerous, small; last whorl rounded, with large and small
alternating striae below; base longitudinally sulcate; mouth
quadrangular; canal long, retorted; columella fiexuose, with
one large fold below.·
Length.-Breadth, 1.40 inches.
Remarks.-On the upper part of the last whorl the striae are
in pairs with a minute impressed line between them having the
appearance of double striae. These, as they approach the base,
pass gradually into alternating ones. The base, immediately
behind the lower part of the columella, is marked with deep,
somewhat semicircular, sulcations pointing the successive
growth of the canal. The upper part of the columella is marked
by faint continuations of the striae, not entirely obliterated by
a thin deposit of callus. The canal is longer than is usuai with
the Buccina, and is bent somewhat backwards. The columella
is much twisted. Close to the upper suture the whorls are bent,
first at a right angle, and then downwards, descending gradually·
to the suture. Near the middle of the whorl, the striae are
faintest. As my only specimen is quite imperfect, I am unable
to give the length or number of whorls; of these latter, portions of
three remain, and there have probably been three or four more.
This fine shell is the largest of our fossil Buccina. Judging
from description, it may bear a distant resemblance to the B.
multirugatum, Conrad, but it differs in its straight striae, size,
want of an umbilicus, etc. It is quite rare. Mr. Tuomey whose
name I have great pleasure in afilx:ing to it, tells me that he has
met with but two specimens of it, both imperfect-H. C. Lea,
1846.
Type locality: Petersburg, V a.
The shell is not heavy, but on the contrary, is very
thin :for the genus. Lea has applied the term "transverse"
to the spiral sculpture. Axial sculpture is entirely
wanting excepting :for the incrementals, which
are usually strong enough to minutely corrugate the
spirals. The shell seems to have been peculiarly susceptible
to injury and scars are visible at :frequent intervals
on the later whorls. The spiral sculpture covers
the entire surface :from the protoconch to the canal; on
the final whorl o:f the spire of a large adult there are
12 very low, rather broad, medially sulcated, flattened
fillets separated by linear interspaces, with an occasional
intercalated secondary; a similar sculpture prevails
on the posterior half o:f the body whorl, but on the
anterior half the spirals become more elevated and the
primaries alternate with either one or two secondaries.
Ptyolwsalpinw tuo1neyi (H. C. Lea) attains a Jarger
size than any other member o:f the genus. The tabulation
o:f the whorls is more strongly defined than in any
other species, and the spirals are more numerous, less
elevated, and more irregular.
Distribution: Virginia: Yorktown formation, Yorktown, York
County ; 5 miles northeast of· Smithfield, Isle of Wight County;
Petersburg, Dinwiddie County ; Sycamore on the Nottoway
River one-half to three-fourths of a mile above the lower Seaboard
Air Line Railroad bridge over the Meherrin River,
Southampton County.
North Carolina: Yorktown formatron, Branchs Bridge and 1
mile above Branchs Bridge, Northampton County; 1¥.a miles
above Murfreesboro, IJertford County; half a mile above Bells
Bridge over the Tar River, Edgecombe County; ( ?) 1* miles
northeast of Chocowinity, Beaufort County, half a mile east
of Lizzie, Greene County. Duplin marl, (?) 4 to 5 miles below
Lumberton, and at ( ?) Fairmont. Robeson CountY.
"Ptychosalpinx" bilix (Conrad) Conrad
Plate 31, figures 21, 25
1843. Buccinum bilia: Conrad, Acad. Nat. Sci. P\hiladelphia
Proc. for 1843, vol. 1, p. 308.
1863. Tritia bili:r Conrad, Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia Proc.
for 1862, p. 562.
1868. Ptychosalpina: bilia: Conrad, Am. Jour. Conchology, vol. 3,
p. 262.
1892. Ptychosalpin(J} bili:r Conrad. Dall, Wagner Free Inst. Sci.
Trans., vol. 3, pt. 2, p. 237.
1892. Rapana tampaensis Dall var. ?, idem, p. 244 (part, figure
excluded).
1904. Ptychosalpin(J} lienosa "Conrad" (part). Martin, Maryland
Geol. Survey, Miocene, p. 189.
Elliptical, thick, with alternated revolving lines crossed· by
rugose lines of growth ; spiral conical, volutions convex ; one or
two towards the apex longitudinally ribbed ; suture profound ;
aperture about two-thirds the length of tbe shell; labrum ribbed
within. Length one inch.
Locality: James River, Virginia.-Conrad, 1843.
Dimensions o:f holotype: Height, 28. mm. ; maximum
diameter, 19 mm.
Holotype: Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1614.
Shell stout, :fusoid; earlier whorls broken away.
Spire apparently rather elevated. V olutions rather
strongly convex, decreasing rapidly in size toward the
apex. Axial sculpture absent except :for the remnants
o:f axial ripples on the posterior portion of the spire.
Spiral sculpture prominent; two series strongly differentiated
on the body and the final whorl o:f the spire;
primaries 6 on the final whorl, 25 on the body; secondaries
regularly intercalated except on the anterior
canal; both primaries and secondaries rather low,
broadly rounded, separated :from one another by linear
interspaces. Anterior canal moderately long, broad,
open, :feebly recurved, obliquely emarginate anteriorly.