OLIVA. Pl. 2.
Olivella purpurata. 2. eburnea.
This shell maybe considered as typical of a small group of Olives, which we suspect are peculiar to the American seas; they offer many points of difference from those of the Indian Ocean. We recollect to have seen another species, in some cabinet, with a small operculum. We have been fearful of pronouncing this to be the O. biplicata, as the judicious Conchologist will perceive the two descriptions do not exactly agree; and we have another to which the characters given of biplicata will equally well apply. The perpendicular line indicates the natural size.
OLIVA purpurata.
Purple-mouthed Olive.
Family Volutidæ.—Genus Oliva. Auct.
Sub-genus, Olivella.
Characters.
Spire of the shell lengthened, conic, the tip acute: inner lip not thickened, outer lip straight: base of the pillar curved inwards, and marked by 2 strong plaits; upper plaits evanescent, or entirely wanting. Aperture effuse, and closed by an operculum? Nobis.
Specific Character.
Shell whiteish, with a very acute spire, nearly as long as the aperture; middle of the body whorl marked by angulated brown lines: suture with spots and fascicles of longitudinal stripes: basal belt very broad: aperture purple.
Oliva biplicata? Sow. Tank. Cat. No. 2332. p. 33.
OLIVA eburnea.
Ivory Olive.
Shell entirely white, or marked by two bands of angulated purplish spots; pillar about 8-9 plaited: basal belt and spire always white; the former single.
Oliva eburnea. Lam. Syst. 7. 1. p. 438.
This is the very common little Olive, sent in such abundance in the West India boxes of shells; we figure it, because it is seldom rightly named in collections, being confounded with conoidalis, oryza, and several others of an equally diminutive size: the plaits are sharp, short, well defined, and nearly all of equal size; although the base of the pillar forms an internal elevation.