59 



MUREX argutus. 

 TAB. CCCXLIV. 



Spec. Char. Ovate, pointed, costated, trans- 

 versely striated ; costae knotted; striae many, 

 elevated, several of them large ; varices few ; 

 whorls inflated beyond each varix ; aperture 

 toothed ; beak ascending. 



Syn. Miirex argutus. Brander, 13. 



Some of the striae upon this shell are elevated into 

 carinae, especially two or three near the middle of each 

 whorl : the same striai form the knots upon the slightly 

 elevated costae, and have deep hollows between them at 

 the backs of the varices ; the aperture is nearly round, 

 with about six obtuse teeth within the right lip, and se- 

 veral irregular varicose elevations upon the left lip, 

 which is but a little relieved from the columella. 



Solander has compared this with Murex pileare of 

 Linneus, about which Gmelin has made much confusion : 

 Murex distortus of Brocchi (p. 399. t. 9. f. 8.) also re- 

 sembles it, but in that the volutions are more carinaform, 

 a character which is pointed out by Brocchi to distin- 

 guish it from M. pileare, Avhich he gives as a fossil 

 species closely resembling the recent analogue from the 

 Mediterranean sea : it is, however, probable, that they 

 are distinct, and that the fossil one is the same as Bran- 

 der's M. argutus, although Brocchi has not quoted it, 

 I cannot be certain, for I have not seen authentic spe- 

 cimens, so could not place M. pileare of Brocchi among 

 the synonima. 



This is not a rare species in the Barton Cliff, but 

 seldom exceeds an inch and a half in length ; I have 

 specimens of that size from several friends. The larger 

 figure is taken from a magnificent individual in the pos- 

 session of the Viscount Fitzharris. 



