98 UNIVALVES. MUREX. 



varieties; M. Babylonius, &c. The M. Babylonius, and 

 the other towers, have a small fissure or incision on the 

 extremity of the outer hp, close to the termination of the 

 first whirl, a peculiarity solely confined to these species. 

 The M. rapa very much resembles the Bulla rapa, and a 

 similar resemblance is manifest between the M. ficus and 

 the Bulla ficus. The reverse variety of the M. ficus, call- 

 ed M. perversus, is a very rare species. The M. antiquus 

 is also sometimes reversed. The animal of the M. de- 

 spectus is often eaten, but is more generally used as a bait 

 for cod and ray. The M. Tritonis, which is an inhabit- 

 ant 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 M. 

 gigas also sometimes measures twenty-one inches. 



The shells of the last division are tapering and subu- 

 late, and have a short beak. Among them may be no- 

 ticed, the M. vertagus, M. aluco, &c. The M. fasciatus 

 and M. fluviatilis are inhabitants of the American rivers; 

 and the M. Moluccanus is found in the marshes of the 

 Molucca islands. 



Another of the reverse species of Murices is the Murex 

 contrarius. Of the rarer species may be mentioned the 

 M. perversus, M. prismaticus, M. stramineus, M. radix, 

 and M. aruanus. 



The M. costatus, M. Isevigatus, M. fossilis, and M. Cam- 

 panicus, are fossil species, and chiefly from Campania. 

 The animal of the M. loco is eaten by the Chinese ; it 

 has a small vesicle in the neck, which contains a purple 

 liquor. 



The numerous species and varieties of the Murices are 

 from the following places: Pulo Condore, Guinea, Sene- 



