108 UNIVALVES. — MUREX. 



their sutures thick, protuberant, and rounded; such are 

 the M. rana, M. lampas, M. lotorium, and M. femorale; 

 the outer lip of the latter shell is frequently imitated in the 

 borders or rims of massy silver plate, hence called the 

 gadroon border. 



In the species of the sixth division the form is more ab- 

 breviated and gibbous, they are also more or less spinous, 

 and without a manifest beak : as in the M. ricinus, M. hip- 

 pocastanum, and the varieties of the M. neritoideus ; most 

 of which have rows of black tubercles and spines; some 

 having pm-ple, and others yellow mouths. 



The ninth division of Murices is composed of those shells 

 which have a long, straight, subulate beak, and unarmed 

 with spines: such are the M. coins, of which there are 

 many large and beautiful varieties; M. Babylonius, &c. 

 The M. Babylonius, and the other towers, have a small fis- 

 sure or incision on the extremity of the outer lip, close to 

 the termination of the first whirl, a peculiarity solely con- 

 finejd to these species. The reverse variety of the M. ficus, 

 called the M. perversus, is a very rare species. The M. 

 antiquus is also sometimes reversed. The animal of the 

 M. despectus is often eaten, but is more generally used as 

 a bait for cod and ray. The M. Tritonis, which is an in- 

 habitant of the Mediterranean, Indian, and South Seas, 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 shells of the last division are tapering and subulate, 

 and have a short beak. Among them may be noticed the 

 M. vertagus, M. aluco, &c. 



Of the rarer species may be mentioned tlie M. regius, 

 M. prismaticus, M. stramineus, M. radix, and M. aruanus. 



The numerous species and varieties of the Murices are 

 from the following places : Pulo Condore, Guinea, Senegal, 



