MUREX. 



Plate I. 



Genus Mueex, Linnfeus. 



Testa ovata vel oblonga, sapisume pyriformin, aut phis mi- 

 tiusve fusiformis, spird subamjulato-tnrritd ; anfractihus 

 leviter ventricosis, varicosis, variciiiis tribm aut plitri- 

 bus^frondihus ramosis vel foUatis vel spinosis ornatis ; 

 columella Imvi, arcuatd, in canalem mine brevissmum 

 recurvum, nunc longissimiim, tuhulosmn desinente ; aper- 

 turd suborbiculari, labro exterm plerumqiie denticulato 

 aut crenato, dente unieo promhmlo erecto infra medium 

 interdum armato. Operculum corneum. 

 Shell ovate or oblong, generally pja-iform, or more or less 

 fusifoi-m, spii-e somewhat angularly tm-reted ; whorls 

 slightly ventricose, varicose, varices three or more in 

 number, ornamented with branched, foliated, or spi- 

 nose fronds ; columella smooth, arched, ending in a 

 canal which is sometimes very short and reciu-ved, 

 sometimes very long and tubulous ; apertm-e nearly 

 orbicular, outer lip generally denticulated or crenated, 

 and sometimes armed beneath the middle T\'ith an 

 erect prominent tooth. Operculum horny. 

 The genus Mm-es, as at present constituted, contains but 

 a very limited niuuber of the species referred to it by its 

 founder. After having been bberally dismembered by Bru- 

 guiere and Lamarck for the formation of the genera Ceri- 

 thium, TiirhineUa, Caiicellaria, Fasciolaria, Ftis/is, Pleuro- 

 toma and Pt/rida, there yet remained a considerable por- 

 tion that were characterized by their different varieties of 

 varicose gi-owth ; and of these Lamarck established the 

 genera Ranella, Triton and Murex: The first for the re- 

 ception of the species in which exactly two varices are de- 

 posited on a whorl, the second for those having a smaller 

 number, and the third for such as have a larger number. 

 The genus therefore under consideration includes all the 

 varicose CanaUferous Gastropods wliich deposit a marginal 

 varix at tlu-ee or more intervals during eveiy volution of 

 increase round their columellar axis. As, in all arbitraiy 

 varieties of classification, however, there is gi-eat (btficulty 

 in determining the limit of the genus. The Murex, with 

 numerous bght and immatm-ely formed varices, is scarcely 

 to be genericaUy distingidshed from the Fusiis with its 

 successive layers or ridges. The Murices Magellanicus, 

 sakbrosus and BelcJieri are of this anomalous character ; 

 although, I consider the last-mentioned species, described 

 by Mr. Hinds in the ' Zoology of the Sulphur,' to present 

 many more characters in common with those oi Fp-ii/a than 

 of Murex, and do not hesitate to refer it to that genus. 



The Murices are greatly distinguished by the ornamental 

 and varied stiiictui-e of the varices ; and when it is consi- 

 dered what an impediment the numerous spines and I 



frondose ramifications must offer to thcii- revolving process 

 of growth, it becomes interesting to notice in what manner 

 this emergency is provided for. The animal inhabitant has 

 the power of removing these obstacles to its growth by the 

 use of a powerful solvent. In the Murex cornutus, for ex- 

 ample, may be commonly observed, on the left of the upper 

 portion of the columella, the remains of a spine which has 

 been abraded and removed at its base to make way for the 

 approachmg deposit of the increasing whorl. 



The genus Murex has been so recently illustrated by 

 Mr. Sowerby in his ' Conohological Illustrations,' and by 

 M. Kiener in his ' Iconographie des CoquiUes vivantes,' 

 that I have not many new species to be added ; there are, 

 however, some important errors to be emended in the works 

 of both authors. 



Species I. (Mus. Cuming.) 



Murex ejiarginatus. Mur. testa ovatd, spird brevius- 

 c/dd, acuminatd, suturis riidis, tindatis ; anfractibus 

 senis, superne angulatis, laviiisciilis, inter varices con- 

 spicue tiiberculatis, iransversim obsolete costatis ; tri- 

 fariam varioosd, varicibus obtuso-fmbrintis, solidius- 

 cidis ; albidd, ferrurjineo-fiiscescente tinctd ; labro ex- 

 terno dente unico parvo, planulato, antice armato ; 

 canali brevi, clauso, oblique reciirvo. 



The E5IARGINATED MuREx. Shell ovate, spu-e rather 

 short, acuminated, sutures rude, waved ; whorls six 

 in niunber, angidated at the upper part, rather smooth, 

 conspicuously tubercidated between the varices, trans- 

 versely obsoletely ribbed ; three-varicose, varices ob- 

 tusely fimbriated, rather solid ; whitish, stained with 

 pale rusty bro-\\Ti ; outer lip aimed anteriorly with a 

 single small flattened tooth ; canal short, closed, ob- 

 liquely recm'ved. 



SoWERBY, Pro.Zool.Soc.,1840; Conch.Illus. f.98 and 100. 



Eab. ? 



The entire sm-face of this shell has the appearance of 

 being very minutely indented. The oblique turn of the 

 canal is characteristic, and so also is the prominent de- 

 velopement of the tubercles between the varices. 



Species 3. (Mus. Cuming.) 

 Murex lacixiatds. Mur. testa oblonr/o-ovatd, subfusi- 

 formi, basem versus contractd, spird mediocri, suturis 

 siibimpressis ; anfractihus senis, inter varices bituber- 

 culatis, transversim iiratis, liris pat-vis, subscabrosis, 

 distantihus, tribus basalibusfortioribus; trifariamvari- 

 cosd, raricikim ereberrinie crispifoliatis, feliis basem 

 versus froiidifortnibiis, subspinosis ; rosaceo-fuscescente. 



April 1845. 



