MURICIDAE 153 



smaller; spines short or absent, often curved; usually three spines 

 on upper part of canal or columellar side; anterior canal extended, 

 more or less than half the height of shell, curved backward, almost 

 closed at base of aperture; color variable; cream, pink, brownish- 

 pink, pale orange, salmon and red; often brown-banded; hispid 

 epidermis; operculum light amber color. 



Subgenus CHICOREUS Montfort, 1810 



Murex florifer arenarius'-'s Clench and Farfante ("M. rufus Lam.") 



PI. 30, fig. 213 



Alt., up to 70 mm. Shell with general characters of the group; 

 young, shell-pmk or orange, remaining as colored apex in adult; 

 ground color ivory, spiral pencilling of brown; about seven convex 

 whorls, sutures distinct; sculpture of low, rounded, interrupted ribs 

 and strong, equidistant spiral cords expanded into three varices of 

 delicate acanthus-leaf processes, continued almost to base of canal; 

 mterspaces with revolving threads; columellar collar about inner lip 

 of oval aperture; canal curved backward, almost closed, expanded 

 and flattened below. 



Dredged in three to seven fathoms. Not uncommon on beaches. 

 Occasional specimens in inside waters. 



Subgenus PHYLLOIVOTUS Swainson. 1833 

 Murex pomuni-"9 Gmelin PI. 30, fig. 214 



Alt., up to 80 mm. Shell thick, rough; ivory color with mott- 

 lings and revolving stripes of brown; light epidermis; spire about 

 three-tenths of altitude; body whorl large, sutures distinct; three 

 prominent, equidistant varices; others less well developed; revolving 

 sculpture of strong cords and fine threads, cords expanded into 

 lamellae or short spires over the prominent varices; aperture large, 

 rounded, an internal sulcus parallel to outer lip; interior smooth, 

 tinted with purple, brown and pink; outer lip crenulate; columellar 

 callus reflected over body whorl, upstanding columellar collar; canal 

 short, deep, almost or quite closed; flattened, curved backward from 

 aperture; operculum brown. 



Three to seven fathoms. Not uncommon on beaches. 



Egg capsules of Murex pomum Gmelin Pi. 49, figs. 338a, b, c 



2'8 Lat., florifer, bearing flowers; arenarius, sandj. 

 279 Lat., pomum, apple. 



