VERT A GUS 



Plate II. 



Species (!. (Mus. Cuming.) 



Vert.^gus graniperus. Ver. testa fidvii, jiprimiJalu, 

 ftisifornii, inrr/nlai-iter varicosd, longitiidiiialiter pli- 

 catd, spimliter striata, plicis tubercidiferis ; aufrac- 

 tibus venlricosis, ultimo fusiformi ; aperturd ovali, 

 canali postico parvo, ttibo canalifuro antico, elongato, 

 paido recurvo, labro iu/lexo, tuberculifero. 



The grained Vertagus. Shell fulvous, pyramidal, sub- 

 fusiform, irregularly varicose, longitudinally plicated, 

 spirally striated, plaits tuberculated ; whorls ventri- 

 cose, the last fusiform ; aperture ovate, posterior ca- 

 nal small, canal-tube long, a little recurved, outer 

 lip iuliected, tuberculated. 



Pease. 



Hub. Sandwich Islands. 



This small, fo.\-bro\vn shell is scarcely characteristic 

 of the genus, the canal-tube being only slightly recurved. 



Species 7. (Fig. «, b, Mus. Cuming.) 



Vertagus obelisgus. Ver. testa pyramidatd, ad basin 

 lata, iurritd, veatricosd, grised vet fnled, castaneo ne- 

 bidatd, rubra vet nigra macidatd et punctata ; anfrac- 

 tibus rectis, prope suturam angulatis, tubercutatis, cos- 

 tellis tribus ntaniliferis infra angulum. cinctis, ultimo 

 lateraliter univaricoso ; aperturd subqnadratd, postice 

 callo magna, columella antice laiiiinatd, intiis obscure 

 biplicato, tubo caualifero valde retrorso, labro punc- 

 tato rotundo, versus cauulem pradncto. 



The obelisk Vertagus. Shell pyramidal, wide at tlie 

 base, turreted, veutricose, grey or brown, clouded 

 with chestnut, spotted and dotted with red or black; 

 whorls straight, angular near the suture, tubercu- 

 lated, girt with three beaded ribs below the angle, the 

 last with a single lateral vari.K ; aperture rather square, 

 with a large posterior callus, columella laminated in 

 front, within obscurely two-plaited, canal-tube strongly 

 recurved, outer lip spotted, round, produced towards 

 the canal. 



Bkl'ouiere, Euc. Meth. pi. 443. f. 4 a, b. 

 Murex sinensis, Gmelin. 



Hab. East Indies. 



This well-known species is subject to several marked 

 variations in sculpturing and colouring. 



Species 8. (Mus. Cuming.) 



Vertagus nobilis. Ver. testa solidd, elangatd, pallidd, 

 longitudinaliter fasciis obscure fulvis, undatis strigatd, 

 spiraliter lineis elevatis cinctd ; anfractibus nmnerosis, 

 superiaribus angtdatis, cancellatis, medianis et inferi- 

 orihus Icevibus, pUoiatis, ad suturam subtumidis ; aper- 

 turd subqnadratd, albd, canali postico magna, callo 

 magna, columella tartuasd, tuba canalifero producta, 

 labro crasso, antice rotundo, trans canalem producta. 



The noble Vertagus. Shell solid, elongated, pale, 

 longitudinally striped with obscurely-fulvous, waved 

 bands, spirally girt with elevated lines ; whorls nu- 

 merous, the upper ones angular, cancellated, central 

 and lower, smooth, flat, tumid at the suture ; aper- 

 ture rather square, white, with the posterior canal 

 large, callus large, columella tortuous, canal-tube 

 produced ; outer lip thick, rounded in front, produced 

 across the canal. 



Reeve, Conch. System. 



Hab. Mindanao, Philippines ; Cuming. 



A magnificent example of this truly noble Vertagus, 

 defective only on the back of some of the whorls, was pur- 

 chased by Mr. Sowerby at the recent sale of Mr. Cuming's 

 stock. 



Species 9. (Fig. a, b, Mus. Cuming.) 



Vertagus fasciatus. Ver. testd elongatd, subpgramida- 

 td, kevi, albd, uonminquam fuscofasciatd, pins minusve 

 spiraliter sulcata ; anfractibns paulo convexis, superne 

 plicatis ; aperturd abliqud, columella biplicald, tubo ca- 

 nalifero tortuoso, obliquo, leviter retrorso, labro crasso. 



The banded Vertagus. Sliell elongate, subpyramidal, 

 smooth, white, sometimes banded with brown, more or 

 less spirally sulcated ; whorls a little convex, plaited 

 above; aperture oblique, columella two-plaited, 

 canal-tube tortuous, oblique, slightly turned back- 

 wards, outer lip thick. 



BuuGUiERE, Eno. Meth. p. 474. 

 C. procerum, Kiener. 



December, 1865. 



