158 PLlRrURA. 



E. MuRiciPORMis, Brod. PI. 39, tigs. 502, 501, 504, 505. 



This appears to be tlie Pacific Coast analogue of E. caudafa. 

 Its distribution is from Southern California to Central America ; 

 and it is largest and finest from the southern localities, attaining 

 a length of 1*75 inches, whereas northern specimens are stunted 

 and do not exceed •15 inch. Mr. W. W. Calkins has collected a 

 few specimens of this species near Cedar Keys, Florida, part of 

 them on the pretty little coral Oculina diffusa : these he sub- 

 mitted to me and I have no doubt that tlie^^ are the same species ; 

 there is also a specimen labeled Florida in the Swift collection.* 



Ranella triquefra (fig. 505), and IL plicata, Reeve (fig. 504), 

 appear to be forms of this species, and an extreme form is B. 

 pectinafa. Hinds. B. clathrata^ Gri'ay, has been also referred 

 here : it has not been figured, and the description will not permit 

 us to assign it definitely. 



E. NiTiDA, Brod. PL 39, fig. 500. 



Dark brown or purple, sometimes bantled ; varices laminate. 

 Length, '6-1 inch. 



Panama, W. Columbia. 



E. PULCHRA, Gray. 



Whitish, brown or violet. Length, 1-5-2-25 inches. 



Japaii ; Philippines. 



It is very doubtful whether this beautiful species belongs to 

 this group, to which it is assigned b}- H. and A. Adams. I men- 

 tion it here, but will include it in Banella. in Yol. III. 



Genus PURPURA, Brug. 



Purpura (typical). Shell oblong-oval, last whorl large ; spire generally 

 short ; aperture ovate, large, with an oblique channel or groove at the 

 fore-part ; columella flattened ; outer lip simple. 



PuRPURKLLA. Aperture contracted ; outer lip strongly dentate within ; 

 columella flattened, with one or two distinct spiral ridges upon its 

 centre. 



* Mr. R. E. ('. Stearns, in "Science News," supposes Mr. Calkins' shell 

 to be a variety of E. caudata. 1 can only repeat that the specimens sent 

 me are undoubtedly E. Muriciformii. 



