132 ROCHESTER ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. [Jan.-as3 
begins at the very apex, encircles the shell just above the suture below,, 
and finally enters the suture below the third whorl; there is a varix 
of considerable size at the ending of the embryonic whorl, which is. 
rounded and transparent ; after passing this varix the whorls are longi- 
tudinally costate, there being nine costze to each whorl; these are 
crossed by four narrow, thread-like spiral lines; the spinose varices 
appear upon the fifth whorl. 
I have before me four specimens of this species in perfect condi- 
tion, and have seen nearly a dozen more in good condition, and the 
characters of the apex appear constant. The number of embryonic 
whorls is a condition not possessed by any member of the chicoreus 
group which I have examined. The spiral carnia encircling all the 
whorls is also a prominent character. 
Pliciferus was considered by Mr. Tryon* a synonym of cadcar, 
Kiener. I have examined specimens of both forms and do not hesitate 
to separate them as good and distinct species. JZ. plictferus was first 
described by the elder G. B. Sowerby in Zool. Proc. 1840, p. 138, and 
first figured in Conch. Ill., Murex, f. ror, from a single specimen in the 
Cumingian collection. Since that time numerous specimens have been 
collected from the China coast and I have had the pleasure of examin- 
ing quite recently a fresh lot of nearly a hundred specimens. It isa 
beautiful species of yellowish color and when full grown measures four 
inches in length. 
Murex BrEVIFRONS, Lam. 
The embryonic apex of this species consists of about 
two rounded, rather smooth whorls ; the tip of the apex 
is bent down to one side, and immersed in the coil of the \ 
succeeding whorl ; the second whorl is but little larger Fig. 3. 
than the first, after the latter leaves the extreme point ; there is no indica- 
tion of a carina; the whorls succeeding the two embryonic, are longi- 
tudinally ribbed until about the fourth is reached when the first varices 
appear; they do not become spinose until about the fifth ; there are 
four spiral lines crossing the whorls, after passing the embryonic ; the 
texture of the apex is more or less hyaline and rather shining. 
I have examined eleven specimens of this species and the charac- 
ters expressed above show no variation. 
The synonomy of this species appears to be rather mixed and for 
the purpose of bringing it together I give below a table containing all 
the known synonyms. 
* Manual of Conchology, vol. 2, p. 04. 
