MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 197 



Murex nodatus Reeve. 

 Murex nodatus Reeve, Conch. Icon. Murex, fig. 107, 1845. 



Habitat. Station 132, off Santa Cruz, in 115 fms., rocky bottom; Station 

 142, Flannegan Passage, in 27 fms., sand; Station 155, off Montserrat, living, 

 in 88 fms., bottom temperature 69°. F. ; Station 272, off Barbados, in 76 fms., 

 sand. 



This is a solely Antillean species, so far as known. It is distinguished from 

 the preceding as more light and spinose, by the more numerous inter-varical 

 plicae, the inter-nodular brown spiral lines, and a tendency to pale brown 

 spiral zones. It is related to M. elegans, but from the material at hand appears 

 to be distinct. 



Murex Cailleti Petit. 

 Murex Cailleti Petit, Journ. de Conchyl., V. p. 87, pi. ii. figs. 1, 2, 1856. 



Habitat. Off Santa Cruz, dead but fresh specimen, in 248 fms., sand, at 

 Station 134. 



I feel a good deal of doubt as to whether this is distinct from recurvirostris, 

 but have not the material to determine the fact. It seems to differ in its 

 longer canal, lighter texture of shell, more elaborate sculpture, and brown- 

 spotted coloration. It is also rather more spinose. 



Beside the above mentioned species of this subgenus the National Museum 

 possesses, from the Antillean region, specimens of Murex chrysostoma Gray 

 and M. concinnus Reeve. 



Subgenus CHICOREUS Montfort. 



o 



The species figured to represent this genus, and which must determine its 

 typical form in subdividing the group, is not the true Murex ramosus to which 

 the text makes reference in Montfort's work, but a species related to M. rufus, 

 palmarosce, and adustus. Montfort doubtless would have included all the 

 species like pomum and brassica in his Chicoreus, as would Swainson have 

 done in his group named Phyllonotus ; but as the latter figures a species of the 

 pomum type as his example, if we divide the two series the name of Phyllonotus 

 must be adopted for the latter, while Muricanthus stands only for the few 

 species like M. radix, which possess a tooth or spine on the outer lip at the 

 base of the aperture. Through such species as M. quadrifrons, etc., there is a 

 gradual passage from Chicoreus to Phyllonotus, but for most purposes it will be 

 convenient to retain the distinction. 



Of the group comprehended under the name Chicoreus, the most prominent 

 species of the region under consideration is Murex rufus of Lamarck, which 



