96 UNIVALVES. MUREX. 



MUREX. — Rock or Trumpet-Shell. 



Animal — a Limax • Shell univalve, spiral, rough, with 

 membranaceous sutures ; aperture oval, ending in an 

 entire, straight, or slightly ascending canal. 



The most prominent character which distinguishes the 

 one hundred and eighty-two species of the Murex from 

 those of the two preceding genera, consists in the beak; 

 which neither incHnes to the right nor left, but is almost 

 invariably straight, and very much produced, sometimes 

 turning a little upwards. 



Themurices are generally of an irregular form, arising 

 from their surfaces being usually covered with spines, 

 knobs, striae, or foliations. One division is peculiar for 

 the uncommon length of beak, which most of its species 

 are remarked for ; the principal are the M, haustellum, 

 and M. tribulus, of which there are two varieties, the 

 common called the thorny woodcock, and the rarer, af- 

 ter the French, peigne de Venus, or Venus's comb, which 

 is not only considered a rarity, but is perhaps one of the 

 most elegant shells of the genus ; it is most beautifully 

 adorned with thin and delicate spines, disposed longitudi- 

 nally in three regular rows. To this same division belong 

 also the M. cornutus and M. brandaris ; the former grows 

 to a considerable size, and is by no means common. 



This division also includes some species that have a 

 much shorter beak, and are more foliated than spinous; 

 such are the M. trunculus, M. pomum, M. decussatus 

 and M. radix ; the latter grows to a considerable size and 

 is much valued; its shell is beset with numerous rows of 



