UNIVALVES MUREX. 131 



MUREX Rock or Trumpet-Shell. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXVI. 



Div. I. — Fam. 1. Fig. 2. M. tribulus. 

 Dnr. Ill— Fam. 2. Fig. 8, M. rota. 

 DiT. IV— Fam. 1. Fig. 5. M. rana. 

 Div. VI — Fig. 4. M. fimbriatus. 

 Div. IX.— Foto. 1. Fig. 1. M. babylonius. 

 Dry. XII.~Fig. 6. M. asper. 



Shell univalve, spiral, rough, with membranaceous sutures; aper- 

 ture oval, ending in an entire, straight, or slightly ascending 

 canal. 



THE most prominent character which distmguishes 

 the species of this genus from those of the two preced- 

 ing genera, consists in the beak being ahiiost invariably 

 straight, and very much produced, sometimes turning 

 a little upwards. 



The Murices are shells of irregular form, arising from 

 their surfaces being usually armed with spines, knobs, 

 striae, or foliations. The shells of the first division have 

 the beak considerably produced, and arc distinguished 

 from those of the second by the spines with which their 

 surfaces are anned; the most remarkable species is 

 the M. tribulus, of which there are two varieties ; (the 

 more common being called the Thorny- Woodcock, and 

 the rarer Venus's Comb ;) the latter is one of the most 

 elegant shells of the genus. When perfect its exte- 

 rior is most beautifully adorned with regular rows of 

 thin and delicate spines. 

 K2 



