MURICID. 107 
these vases, the process of laying occupying several weeks. The 
vases are generally attached in more or less regular rows, cover- 
ing sometimes an area of three or four square inches. In shape 
and size they are like the egg-cases of Purpura, but without the 
slight reddish tinge of the latter. They are flattened vertically, 
and their edges are marked by keel-like ridges. Unlike the vases 
of Purpura, each of which contains several hundred eggs, those 
of Urosalpinx contain only from six to twenty, ten or twelve 
being the usual number. 
SCALASPIRA, Conrad, is certainly closely allied to, if not iden- 
tical with Urosalpinx; if the latter, it has priority: it would 
scarcely be advisable, however, to reject Stimpson’s well-charac- 
terized genus in fayor of one having no diagnosis, and only 
known by its type. Scalaspira strumosa, Conr. Miocene; 
Virginia. 
KupieurA, H. and A. Adams. 
Distr.—5 sp. Atlantic Coast of United States, West Indies, 
Panama. £. caudata, Say (xliii, 13). 
Ranelliform, with a pair of lateral varices, one on either side, 
and intermediate smaller varices ; aperture dentate within. 
The lingual dentition differs entirely from that of Ranella, 
and resembles Murex: the shell also resembles some of the small 
Murices, and particularly Urosalpinx. The geographical distri- 
bution of the group is entirely different from that of Ranella. 
Typuis, Montfort. 
Etym.— Typhos, smoke. 
Distr.—15 recent species. Mediterranean, Cape, Ind. Ocean, 
Tropical America. 7. tetrapterus, Bronn (xliii, 14). Fossil, 8 
sp. Eocene—; London, Paris. 
Ovate or oblong, with projecting hollow tubes between the 
three spinose varices; aperture suborbicular, prolonged in front 
into a closed siphonal canal. 
The ascending tube which is the distinguishing feature of the 
shells of this genus is occupied by an extension of the mantle- 
margin of the animal. 
The operculum is ovate, with apical nucleus, like that of 
Murex. 
Tropuon, Montfort. 
Etym.— Trophonius, a mythological deity. 
Distr.—40 species. Mostly cold seas; typically Arctic and 
Antarctic. 7. clathratus, Linn. (xliii, 15). Fossil; Chili, Cali- 
fornia, England, etc. 
Varices numerous, lamelliform or laciniated ; spire prominent ; 
aperture ovate; canal open, usually turned to the left; shell 
white, often dark-colored within the aperture. 
