TYPHIS. 125 



Thus are we indebted to the molluscous inhabitants of the 

 Murex and Buccimmij for the imperishable dye which dis- 

 tinguished the vestments of the Eoman emperors,, and for 

 the brilliant decorations of our earliest manuscripts. 



The Murices which gave rise to this digression are gene- 

 rally distributed throughout the globe. They are repre- 

 sented on the coasts of Britain by the M. ennaceus ; in the 

 Mediterranean by one or two small species, in addition to 

 several that are figured in the ^ Conchologia Iconica ' ; in 

 California by the magnificent M. erijthrostoma, and in Pa- 

 nama by the M. regiiis, equally distinguished by its exquisite 

 structure and brilliant colour. The noble M. raniosiis and 

 saxatilis abound in the Eastern Seas, with numerous other 

 species, among which is the well-known Yenus^s Comb, M. te- 

 nidspina : a species possessing an extraordinary character 

 and delicacy of structure, that fully compensates for all 

 deficiency of colour. 



The genus Typhis presents a pecuhar characteristic in 

 the development of certain tubes, which are not produced 

 in any other genus. 



Shells of this singular group are similar in form and 

 general aspect to those of the 3Iure,v genus, but invariably 

 small, and distinguished by the peculiarity of a more or less 



