UNIVALVES MUREX. 103 



The next and very proiniiicnt division of Murices is 

 composed of such sliellsas have a long, straight, subulate, 

 closed beak, and unarmed with spines: such are the Mu- 

 rex colus or crane, of which there are many large and 

 beautiful varieties : Murex Babylonius or tower of Ba- 

 bel, and many other towers, all of which have a pecu- 

 liarity which appertains solely to them, and which con- 

 sists in a small fissure or incision placed on the extremity 

 of the outer lip, close to the termination of the first 

 whorl. 



The Murex rapa resembles bulla rapa exceedingly ; 

 a similar resemblance is manifest between the Murex 

 ficus and the bulla ficus. The reverse variety of the 

 Murex 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 ge- 

 nerally used as a bait for cod and ray. 



The Murex Tritonis, or triton's trumpet, is an inha- 

 bitant of the INIediterranean and Indian seas ; and a third 

 variety comes from the South Seas. This is the species 

 which is used by the natives of New Zealand as a mu- 

 sical 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. The Murex fasciatus and fluviatilis are 

 inhabitants of the American rivers; and the Molucca- 

 anus is found in the marshes of the Molucca islands. 



One of the reverse species of Murices is the Murex 



