MUREX. 



Plate XII. 



Species 45. (Mus. Cuming.) 



MuREX RUBESCENS. Mur. testd fudformi, crassd, trans- 

 versim striata et costatd, inter varices fortiter tulier- 

 culatd ; trifariam varicosd, varicibus incra-ssatis, tiiber- 

 culis obttesis rudibus canaliculatis irregulariter amiatis; 

 ■Divide rubescente, tuberculis castaneo-fuacis ; aperturd 

 parvd. 



The pink-red Murex. Shell fusiform, thick, trans- 

 versely striated and ribbed, strongly tuberculated be- 

 tween the varices ; three-varicose, varices thickened, 

 anned with irregular rude obtuse canaliculated tuber- 

 cles ; bright pink -red, tubercles chesnut brown ; aper- 

 tm'c small. 



Broderip, Pro. Zool. Soc, 1832. 



Ilab. Taheite (found on the coral reefs) ; Cuming. 



A solid shell of rude iiTegular structm-e. 



Species 46. (Mus. Cuming.) 



Murex digit-^tus. Mur. testd subpyriform'i, spird hrevi, 

 suturis cavernosis ; transversim scabroso-liratd et stri- 

 atd ; octnfariam varicosd, varicihiis fron(hsis,frondiI)us 

 parvis, nmnerosis, erecto-dilatatis, ad summitatem levi- 

 ter palmatis ; aurantio-fuscescente,frondibus castaneis; 

 aperturd parvd ; canali subelongato. 



The digitated Murex. Shell somewhat pyi-iform, spii-e 

 short, sutm-es cavernous ; transversely roughly ridged 

 and striated ; eight-varicose, varices fi'ondose, fronds 

 small, numerous, erectly dilated, slightly palmatcd at 

 the summit ; orange-brown, fronds dark chesnut ; 

 aperture small ; canal rather elongated. 



SowERBY, Pro. Zool. Soc, 1840 ; Conch. Dins. f. 114. 



Hab. Island of Massoua, Red Sea (found in rocky places) ; 

 RiippeU. 



There are eight varices to a whorl in this beautiful spe- 

 cies, each consisting of a row of numerous paluiated 

 fronds. 



Species 47. (Mus. Steere.) 



Murex nigritus. Mur. testd ovato-pyriformi, veidricosd, 

 spird brevi ; anfractibus superne angulatis, transversim 

 planiliratis, liris alternis latioribus ; octofariani vel 

 nonafariam varicosd, varicibus frondosis,fronde ad an- 



gulmn grandi, tuherculatO'Sqna)iiatd,frondibus tribiis vel 

 quatermis basalibus loiigioribns fortibus corniformiiiis, 

 Cfeteris parvis, subobsoletis ; albd, ferrugineo tinctd, 

 frondibus lirisque aterrimis ; umbilico amplo. 



The BLACKENED MuREX. Shell ovately pyriform, ven- 

 tricose, spii'e short; whorls angulated at the upper 

 part, transversely flatly ridged, alternate ridges the 

 broader; eight- or nine-varicose, varices frondose, frond 

 upon the angle large tubercularly squamate, the three 

 or fom- basal fronds longer, strong, horn-shaped, the 

 rest small and rather obsolete ; white, stained with 

 rusty browii, fi-onds and ridges jet black ; umbUicus 

 large. 



Philippi, Abbild. und Besch., Couch. Part VIII. Murex, 

 p. 1. pi. 1. fig. 1. 



Hob. Pacific Islands. 



I quite agree with Dr. Philippi in distinguishing this 

 shell from the Murex radix ; three species have been con- 

 founded together, in my opinion, under that name. 



Species 48. (Mus. Saul.) 



MuEEX MELANOMATHOS. Mur. testd globoso-pyriformi, 

 spird brevi, transversim elevato-striatd ; octofariani va- 

 ricosd, variciljus sqtiamato-spi/iosis, spinis soUdiusculis, 

 canaliculatis, confertis,peculiariter erectis ; albd, vari- 

 cibus aterrimis ; aperturd parvd ; canali subcompresso ; 

 clauw. 



The black-spined Mukex. Shell globosely pja-iform, 

 spire short, transversely elevately striated, eight-va- 

 ricose, varices squamately spined, spines rather solid, 

 canaliculated, close-set, peoidiarly erect ; white, varices 

 jet-black ; apertm'e small, canal rather compressed, 

 closed. 



Gmelin ; Lamarck, Anim. sans vert. (Deshayes' edit.), 

 vol. ix. p. 584. 



Eab. ? 



This interesting little shell may be recognised by the 

 tall, solid, erect, jet-black character of its spines, in which 

 respect it differs fi'om the Murex angularis, a species I have 

 often seen mistaken for it bv collectors. 



May 1845. 



