MUEEX.— Plate XV. 



mature examination, however, I am obliged to concede to 

 the opinion held by Mr. Sowerby as to its being a variety 

 of the Murex axicornu. 



Axis was a name given by the ancients to an animal 

 of the deer tribe, recorded by Pliny as being held sacred 

 to Bacchus. 



Species 60. (Mus. Cuming.) 



Murex aculeatus. Mtir. testa, fimformi, iranmernim 

 striata., inter varices siibohsolete bitubereidatd ; trifariam 

 varicosd, varicibiis frondosis, frondibus rariuscidis, di- 

 latato-ranwm, spinosis ; roseo-fuscescente, varicibus, 



columella, apice basiqiie mvide rosaceis ; apertura parvd, 

 labro minute denticulato. 



The prickly Murex. Shell fusiform, transversely stri- 

 ated, somewhat obsoletely tuberculated between the 

 varices ; three- varicose, varices frondose, fi'onds rather 

 few, dUately branched, spinous ; pinkish brown, va- 

 rices, columella, apex and base deep pink : aperture 

 small, less minutely denticulated. 



Lamarck, Anim.sans vert. (Deshayes'edit.), vol. ix. p. 575. 



Hab. Moluccas. 



A beautiful Little species, richly suffused tlu-oughout 

 with a delicate pink tinge. 



