376 MURICIDiK. 



The animal is entirely of a brilliant scarlet colour. The 

 tentacula are rather long, obtusely subulate at their points 

 and thickened for one third of their lengths to bear the 

 dark eyes. The foot is short and squared in front. This 

 shell profusely covers the rocks of the little islet of Herm 

 near Guernsey, towards low-water-mark. On heaving 

 them over we have found it in company with Fissurella, 

 Emarginula and Chiton discrepans (S. H.) In the Medi- 

 terranean we have taken it abundantly among seaweeds in 

 the second region of depth (E. F.) It is essentially a 

 southern species, and, like Haliotis, reaches the Channel 

 Isles though it does not extend its range to the coasts of 

 England. 



A'ofc. — In the collection of the late Dr. Turton, is preserved a specimen re- 

 garded by him as the Murex (jyrhtus of Montagu, which fairly enough agrees 

 with the brief description of that shell in the " Testacea Britannica," from which 

 work his own account is manifestly transcribed. Hence, as no proof exists that 

 the example referred to was obtained from Laskey (on whose testimony the 

 species was introduced into our Fauna), and, indeed, is very different from his 

 delineation of it, it cannot be valued as a typical specimen. We feel assured 

 that the same shell did not supply Montagu with his description, and Laskey 

 with his figure. Turton's example, is neither the gyrinus of Gmelin, nor a 

 Ranella at all, but is in so worn and imperfect a state, that we have failed in 

 identifying it with any adult and perfect shell ; it bears a general resemblance to 

 Kiener''s figure of Purpura fragum, but is certainly not that species. We have 

 no doubt that the il/. gyrinus, as described, was not indigenous, and from its 

 very inadequate definition and erroneous identification, do not consider it worth 

 the attention of Conchologists. 



LACHESIS. Risso. 



Shell strong, turreted, many-whorled, body-whorl not 

 very large, surface crossed by longitudinal ribs and spiral 

 striae. Apex of spire mammillated. Mouth oval, canal 

 very short, straight, not recurved. Operculum unguiform. 



