116 MURICID@. 
Edwards has used the name in Crustacea, in 1828, proposed 
Cymia for these shells. I am not disposed to disturb a well- 
known name, even under these mitigating circumstances; be- 
sides, it is not impossible that Milne-Edwards’ genus may itself 
be superseded by some other name or dismembered, and nothing 
left of it, as in our old genus Pyrula. 
Humphrey may not have understood what limit he ought to 
have given to his genus Cuma, and whilst I do not think that he 
has any very strong claim on us for the recognition of any of his 
names, | am unwilling to increase the already confused state of 
our nomenclature by attempting to follow out the absurd and 
impracticable “rule” of the British Association. Every naturalist 
knows that the names of genera in his specialty are repeated in 
other branches of natural science, and accepted without hesita- 
tion, and that we only follow the “rule” by changing a dupli- 
cated name occasionally. Besides, no one pretends to be a 
general naturalist in these days, and the conchologist will not 
find himself embarrassed by the use of the generic name Cuma 
in any other subkingdom of nature, or in all of them, whilst he 
would be “ very considerably bothered” upon encountering the 
name Cymia, 
Rapana, Schum., 1817. 
Syn.—Ecphora, Conr. Stenomphalus, Sandb. 
Distr.—8 sp. China, Japan, Philippines, Australia. &. bezoar, 
Linn. (xlv, 46). 
Shell ventricose,axis perforated to the apex ; spire depressed ; 
aperture oval, narrowed anteriorly; canal open, slightly recurved ; 
inner lip reflected, free anteriorly ; umbilicus wide, corrugated. 
This well-characterized group includes a few species usually 
found upon coral reefs in tropical seas, and probably living upon 
the coral polyps. 
Fusus quadricostatus of Say (xlv, 47), a common American 
tertiary fossil and very remarkable shell, is referable to this 
genus : Conrad has formed for it his genus Ecphora. 
LATIAXIS, Swainson. Whorls more or less detached, carinated ; 
aperture small, trigonal ; canal narrow, rather long, curved. The 
animal and operculum are unknown. &. Mawe, Gray (xlv, 48). 
| PsEUDoMUREX, Monterosato, | 
An aberrant form, referred by authors to Murex, to Corallio- 
phila and to Latiaxis. I cannot find any good characters by 
which to separate it from Coralliophila. It includes four species 
and numerous varieties, all inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea. 
P. bracteatus, Broechi. 
RHIZOCHILUS, Steenstrup. 
Distr.—22 sp, Ooral Reefs, Pacific, West Indies, 
