■168 Transactions. 



The earliest type-designation of the Linnean Murex I have traced is 

 that by Montfort, who in the Conch. Syst., vol. ii, p. 619, 1810, designated 

 Murex tribulus Linne as type- 

 As subgenus (p. 400) Muricantha is used, based on Muricanihus Swain- 

 son, Treat. Mai., 1840, p. 296 ; as synonyms being quoted Centronotas 

 Swainson, 1835 (not of Schneider, 1801), and Phyllonotus Swainson, 1840. 



On p. 403, as a subgenus, Pteropurpura Jousseaume, 1879, is used: as 

 a synonym Pteronotus Swainson, 1840, not of Gray, 1838, being cited. 



The history of the Swainsonian genera is as follows: — In the Zool. Ulus., 

 2nd ser., vol. iii, 1832-33, Swainson moved thus : In part 22, in connec- 

 tion with plate 100, he subdivided the genus Murex into five' subgenera— 

 viz., Murex Auct., Haustellaria Sw., Phyllonotus Sw., Centronolus Sw., and 

 Pterynotus Sw. Diagnoses are given, but no species named. The species 

 in question, however, is figured and described as Murex (Centronotus) eury- 

 stomus. In part 24, on pi. 109, is figured and described Murex (Phyllonotus) 

 imperialis, and Murex pinnatus is named in connection with Pyterynotus. In 

 the 27th part Murex. (Pteronotus) pinnatus is figured on pi. 122, earlier 

 described in Bligh's Cat. App., p. 17. 



The dates and types of these generic names would read then, — 



Centronotus Swainson, Zool. Illus., 2nd ser., vol. iii, pi. 100, 1833. Type 

 (by monotypy) : Murex (C.) eurystomus, Sw. 



Phyllo7wtus, id. ib., pi. 109, 1833. Type (by monotypy) : Murex (P.) 

 imperialis Sw. 



Pteronotus, id. ib., pi. 122, 1833. Type (by monotypy) : Murex pin- 

 natus Sw. 



In the Treatise Mai., 1840, Swainson made several alterations, and this 

 contradictory effort has been generally accepted without criticism, due to 

 ease of reference. On p. 296 Phyllonotus Sw. is made to include both eury- 

 stomus Sw. and imperialis Sw., whilst the new name. Muricanthus is pro- 

 posed, with two species — radix Sw. and melanomathus — though it is stated 

 in a footnote, " This type was originally called Centronotus ; but as that 

 name had been previously given to a genus of fishes, we substitute the 

 above." If Suter's synonymy were correct, then Phyllonotus Swainson, 

 1833, would replace the subgeneric name Muricantha Swainson, 1840, on 

 p. 400 ; and on p. 403 Pteronotus Swainson, 1833, would become available 

 instead of Pteropurpura Jousseaume, 1879, as it is earlier than Pteronotus 

 Gray, 1838. As noted, however, above, these groups seem certainly very 

 well differentiated, and of full generic value. A careful monographic review 

 would probably give many more than I here admit, but there are four 

 distinct groups. Fischer admitted seven subgenera covering these same 

 four. Adams Bros, had recognized ten, but three of these were generically 

 separated from Murex by Fischer. 



Names not taken into consideration by Fischer are now commonly 

 recognized, so that his nomination cannot be followed. 



T. Martyn, in 1784, introduced Purpura for a species of this family, 

 but its first entrance is in connection with a shell (P. foliata) which was later 

 made the type of a new genus, Cerastoma Conrad, 1865, which name it must 

 displace. 



Perry's names Triplex and Hexaplex call for consideration, so that I 

 have roughed out these names for future workers. 



Montfort, in May, 1810, split up Murex Linne as follows : Murex Linne ; 

 type, M. tribulus Linne. Chicoreus nov., pp. 610-11 ; type, M. ramosus ; 

 Brontes nov., pp. 622-23 ; type, M. haustellum. 



