176 



turns, the anterior poi'tion being spirally striated and terminated 

 by a sharp varix ; shell in the brephic stage strongly spirally 

 lineated, and having rudimentary spines ; remainder of whorls 

 cut up by three slightly foliated varices, crenulated at the edge, 

 and each bearing a large, long, hollow spine at the periphery; 

 the spiral ornament consists of bold, thread-like lineations, with 

 minor ones between and in the vicinity of the suture posteriorly ; 

 body- whorl contracted medially, and the prolongations of the varices 

 lead to projecting, curved, hollow spines on the dorsal aspect of 

 the columella ; aperture large, ovate ; outer margin slightly 

 sulcated ; inner margin covered by a thin plate of enamel, which 

 is detached from the columella anteriorly and spread out, bordering 

 the narrow, curved slit of the almost closed canal. 



Dimensions. — Length 29 mm.; breadth 14'5mm. ; length of 

 aperture 7 mm. ; length of canal 9 mm. 



Form, and Loc. — Eocene : Muddy Creek, Victoria. 



G. 4291. Example of the adult. Presented hi/ John Bennant, Fsq. 

 G. 9449. One specimen. Purchased. 



Murex (Triplex) dennanti, Tate. 



1888. Murex (Chicoreus) dennanti, Tate, Trans. Roy. Soc. South Aust. 

 vol. X. p. 98, pi. ii. fig. 7. 



This species is so closely allied to M. amllyceras that a large 

 series of specimens would probably show that the two were 

 synonymous. The principal point of difference is the less pro- 

 nounced character of the ornament, whereby the spire at the 

 periphery of the whorls is much reduced in size, the varices 

 are not so deeply foliated, nor the edges of the latter so markedly 

 crenulate. M. amhlyceras has no intervariceal nodulations. 

 M. dennanti has a spiral carina, which becomes spinose on passing 

 over the varices, on the anterior portion of the body-whorl, best 

 developed in the earlier stages of growth ; canal long. 



Dimensions. — Length 25 mm.; breadth 10 "5 mm. ; length of 

 aperture 6'5 mm. ; length of canal 8 mm. 



Form, and Loc. — Eocene : Muddy Creek, Victoria. 



G. 5520. Example of the adult. Purchased. 



G. 9451. Specimens of the neanic and ephebic stages. Purchased. 



