162 Mr. E. A. Smith on Molluscafrom the 



It is probable that an extended series of specimens of this 

 form and of 8. symbiotes might prove that they ought to be 

 regarded as variations of one and the same species. The 

 difference of size, however, is considerable, and the relative 

 length of the apertures is rather different. The colour of the 

 aperture and columella is the same in both, and the character 

 of the labral sinus is similar. One of the two specimens 

 under examination has a distinct oblique fold on the columella, 

 such as we find in Fasciolaria and Latirus, but placed some- 

 what higher up ; it is only barely indicated in the second 

 example, and is just traceable, in the form of a very slight 

 prominence, in both specimens of 8. symbiotes. 



The operculum is normal, narrow, and pointed at the 

 terminal nucleus. 



8. Murex malabaricus. (PI. III. fig. 3.) 



Testa ventricose fusiformis, antice rostrata, albida, fascia unica rufa 

 in medio anfractuum superiorum, tribus in anfr. ultimo ornata, 

 supra rostrum rufo-fusco tincta, varicibus tribus sequidistantibus 

 instructa ; anfractus 9-10, convexiusculi, costis longitudinalibus 

 parum prominentibus paucis nodosis instructi, lirisquc tenuibus 

 spiralibus numerosis ornati ; varices valde promiuentes, breviter 

 frondosi, serrati, in medio anfractuum spina recurva acuta exca- 

 vata instructi, in anfr. ultimo spinis 3-4 rectiusculis inferne 

 muniti; apertura rotunde ovata, alba, indistincte trifasciata; 

 labrum porrectum, ad marginem leviter erenulatum, rufo-fusco 

 punctatum ; labium valde prominens, album, leviter reflexum, 

 superne labro junctum ; rostrum rectiusculum, fere clausum, 

 longit. totius \ adsequans ; operculum ovatum, fortiter et sub- 

 con centrice costatum. 



Longit. 114 millim., diam. 37 ; canalis ab apertura ad extremitatem 

 rostri 58 longus ; apertura 22 longa, 15 lata. 



Bab. Off Malabar coast, lat. 11° 05' 45" N., long. 

 75° 04' 08" E., in 36 fathoms. 



This handsome species is well characterized by its form, 

 the style of coloration, and sculpture. The recurved hollow 

 spine upon the varices about the middle of the upper whorls 

 is a prominent feature in the ornamentation. The longi- 

 tudinal slender costse, which are nodulous where certain of 

 the transverse liras cross them, increase in number with the 

 growth of the shell. In the last whorl there are about six 

 in the space between any two varices, five to four on the 

 penultimate, four to three on the preceding volution, two and 

 then only one upon the uppermost whorls. 



The transverse colour-bands, when examined closely, are 

 found to consist of groups of coloured liree. 



