MUREX. * «1 



and tlioie are also one or two on each varix below the H))ertnre. 

 The eolor varies from whitish to livid with two or three broad 

 brown l)ands — which are most visible within the ai)erture. 



West Indies ; W. Coast of Central America to Mazaihin. 



Having a veiv extensive snite of this species, including 

 specimens from well-authenticated localities on both sides of the 

 American continent, I find no difference in them whatever as to 

 the t^qjical form described above, and which may be recognized 

 at once by its general dark color. M. nigrescens, Sowb. (fig. 

 124), is simply a large specimen of the typical form and M. Jivi- 

 dus. Carp., cannot be distinguished as a variet}'. 31. funicalatus, 

 Reeve (fig. 112) is founded on an unusually light colored specimen ; 

 similar ones are in the collection before me as well as examples 

 of intermediate coloration. 3f. messorius, Sowb., (fig. 125), is 

 similar to M. fimicuJatus and also has relationships with the form 

 with straight canal which the same author has named J/, rec- 

 Hrostris, (fig. 126). 



There is also a West Indian form, much lighter in color, and 

 with the spines usually somewhat more developed whilst the 

 canal is generally shorter. If I had fewer specimens I might be 

 able to distinguish this form as a variety, biit my material sup- 

 plies all intermediate gradations. Of these lighter-colored shells 

 Sowerby has made his M. similia (fig. 130), whilst another specimen 

 has been figured by him in mistake for M. motacilla, Chemn. 

 Two eager English conchologists discovered this error and Mr. 

 Hinds has added to his scientific laurels by describing the 

 wrongly identified shell as M. Antillarum, whilst Mr. Reeve has 

 called it 31. nodatus and refigured it. Of course neither of these 

 investigators felt called upon to study the group to which Mr. 

 Sowerby 's wronglj' identified species belonged and equally of 

 course neither of them had time to ascertain whether any other 

 naturalist had made and published a similar discovery. Thus I 

 place eight so-called species in the synonymy of 31. recurvi- 

 I'ostris in addition to a number of synonyms acknowledged by pre- 

 ceding authors and upon which I therefore refrain from dwelling. 

 Mr. Arthur Adams has issued a short Latin diagnosis (Zool. 

 Proc. 1851), of 31. jndcher from St. Croix, W. I. No figure has 

 been published and the description mentions neither color, 



