rriicoRKus. 89 



M. PALMA-Ros.i^, Lam. IM. 14, fio;. 140. 



This may be taken as the type of a group of Indo-Pacific 

 species, very closely related and yet readily distinguishable by 

 minor characters. The}' are solidly built, with elevated spire and 

 the spines are peeuliarlj^ frondosely branched. M. palma-rosse. 

 may be recognized by the denticulated border of its inner or 

 columellar lip. In its brownish hue, with dai'ker tint on the 

 raised revolving lines, and in its pink-tinted fronds it resembles 

 other related species. Two or three longitudinal ribs are formed 

 between the varices. Length, 4 inches. 



Ind. 0. 

 M. MAURUS. Brod. PI. 14, figs. 138, 139, 142. 



This species is usually smaller in size than the last and has no 

 teeth on the columellar lip. The fronds also, have intermediate 



smaller fronds. Length, 3 inches. 



PJiilippine to Marquesas Isles. 



The type is dark colored, purplish ; lighter colored specimens, 

 tinged with pink are called 31. Saidiae, Sowb., (fig. 142) and a 

 somewhat depauperate, small specimen has been figured and de- 

 scribed by Reeve as if. affinis^ (fig. 138). 



M. MiOROPHYLLUS, Lam. PL 14, fig. 144. 



The fronds like in M. niai(rui< but more stunted in growth ; the 

 shell is narrow, with spire much longer than the canal ; the inner 

 lip has a denticulate margin, like M. palma-rosse ; there are three 

 ribs between the varices ; the color is light brown with dark 

 brown or purplish black on the revolving lines and fronds. 



Length, 3 inches. 



Ind. Ocean. 

 M. BANKSii, Sowb. PI. 14, fig. 141. 



Somewhat like M. microphyllus in form, but athinner shell, the 



fronds more developed, the revolving lines neither so close nor so 



prominent, the ribs, three in number, merging into two as the 



shell becomes older. 3"t5 inches. 



Moluccas. 



M. TORREFACTUs, Sowb. PI. 14, figs. 143, 145; PI. 15, fig. 151. 



Like Tnicrophyllus this has a short canal, but it is usually' a 



much stouter species ; in fact the stoutest of the group. The 



fronds are as in Saulise ; the inner lip is not denticulate on its 



margin and there is only one large tuberculous rib between 



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