UNIVALVES. MUREX. 79 



a similar resemblance is manifest betw^een the Murex 

 Ficus and the Bulla Ficus. The reverse variety of the 

 Murcx Ficus, is called Murex Perversus, or the Reverse 

 Fig, and is a very rare species. The Murex Antiquus is 

 also sometimes found contrary or reversed. The animal 

 of the Murex Despectus is often eaten, but is more gene- 

 rally used as a bait for Cod and Ray. 



The Murex Tritonis, or Triton's-trumpet, is an inhabi- 

 tant of the Mediterranean and Indian seas; and a third va- 

 riety comes from the South Seas. This is the species whicli 

 is used by the natives of New Zealand, as a musical shell ; 

 and by the Africans and many nations of the East, as a 

 Military-horn. It sometimes exceeds two feet in length. 

 The Murex Gigas also often measures twenty-one inches. 



The last division of the Murices, includes those that are 

 tapering and subulate, having a short beak. Among them 

 may be noticed, the Murex Vertagus, Murex Aluco, &c. 

 &c. &c. The Murex Fasciatus and Fluviatilis are inha- 

 bitants of the American rivers; and the Moluccanus 

 is found in the marshes of the Molucca Islands. 



One of the reverse species of Murices is the Murex Con- 

 trarius. And among the rarer sorts, may be classed the 

 Murex Perversus, Prismaticus, Stramineus, Radix, and 

 Aruanus or Aru-trumpet, which comes from New Gui- 

 nea. The fossil Murices are as follow; viz, Murex 

 Tripterus, Costatus, Laevigatus, Fossilis, and Campani- 

 cus; they are mostly from Campania. The animal of 

 the Murex Loco is eaten by the Chinese, it has a small 

 vcscicle in the neck, which contains a purple liquor. 



The numerous species and varieties of the Murices 

 are from the following places, viz. PuloCondore, Guinea, 

 Senegal, Straits of Magellan; the European, Northern, 



