130 ROCHESTER ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. [Jan. 12 
being the usual number. In not a few cases the apices of (apparently) 
totally different species have been found upon examination to be 
identical in every way; thus, Alurex Tryoni, Hidalgo, M. Catlett, 
Petit, and AZ. Similis, Sowb., have the same form of apex which does 
not vary in the minutest degree. Due allowance must be made, of 
course, for the wear to which the shell is subjected, as in many cases 
the carina might be totally obliterated by wear, and thus give the entire 
apex a different appearance. 
The present condition of the synonomy of this group, 1s a con- 
tinual and perplexing bar to the solution. of the problem of specific 
identity, and will remain so until large quantities of specimens have 
been gathered from wel] authenticated localities, and when more is 
known concerning the soft parts. 
Genus Murex, Linn. 
Subgenus Murex (Sensu Stricto). 
Murex Trisutus, Linn. ; 
The nucleus consists of one anda half brownish Pics 
glossy whorls ; a carina begins at the apex, encircles the embryonic 
whorls and finally runs into the lowest spiral lire of the succeed- 
ing whorl; this carina is very faint and only to be seen by the 
aid of a powerful lens ; the extreme point is bent down to one side and 
the tip is immersed in the body of the second whorl; the first half 
of the apex, looking at the lateral outline, is about two-thirds the size of 
the second half ; the whole whorl is decidedly knob shaped and rapidly 
increases In size from the apex to its juncture with the matured portion 
of the shell; there is a slight varix at the ending of the embryonic 
whorls ; the succeeding whorls are crossed by four spiral lire ; the spines 
begin upon the fourth whorl. 
This species was first described in my former paper (p. 68), but 
after its publication I found that what had been identified as ¢ribulus, 
was really Wartintanus, Reeve. This species has been placed by some 
authorities as a synonym of ¢rzdu/us, but the two species seem to be 
quite distinct. I have examined upwards of twenty specimens of each 
species, and there is no intermingling of characters. , 
The general character of the present apex is quite different from 
any hitherto described. 
Subgenus Rhinocantha A. Ad. 
MuvureEX BRANDARIS, Linn. 
: eS r 
The embryonic nucleus consists of one and a half 
rounded glossy, smooth whorls, of which the second half is Fic «. 
