!2 COLLECTIONS FEOM MELANESIA. 



lml the spiral lirse are normal in this respect. The measurements 

 are : — 



Type: Length 10', millim., diameter 3. 



\ar. from Port Curtis : length 12^, diam. 4. 



11. Murex tenuispira. 



La marcl; : Kiister, Con.-Cab. p. 27, pi. 11. fig. •'!, and pi. 20. fig. 3; 

 Reeve, < '■melt. Icon. fig. 35 : Kiener, pi. 7. fig. 1 ; Sowerby, Gen. Rec. 

 8f Foss. Shells, pi. 225. fig. 2 ; Thes. Conch, pi. 380. tig.' 7. 



Il'ih. Torres Straits, 7-10 fms. (Ooppinger) ; Darnlev Islands, 

 Torres Straits, 20-30 fms. (Brazier) : Amboina (Quoy c$- Gaimard); 

 Moluccas (Kiener). 



12. Murex coppingeri. (Plate V. fig. A.) 



Shell clavately fusiform, whitish, indistinctly banded with pale 

 brown. Whorls 9-9|, three apical smooth, slightly convex, glassy ; 

 the rest angulated near the middle, sloping above, somewhat con- 

 tracted below at the suture, trivaricose, bicostate between the varices : 

 the latter have a single upturned spine arising at the angle, which 

 is marked by a prominent ridge. The ribs are rather obsolete 

 above the angle, and a trifle oblique below it. The slope of the 

 whorls is traversed by about four thread-like liras, which are most 

 strongly developed upon the upper part of the varices. The lower 

 part of the whorls is ornamented with a few similar lira?. The 

 three varices on the last whorl bear eight principal spines : of 

 these the uppermost is longest and stoutest; three rest upon the 

 labrum, and five upon the right side of the canal. In addition to 

 these are four or five secondary or smaller intermediary spines on 

 the outer lip, and a small erect one between each of those upon the 

 canal. The body-whorl is transversely Urate throughout, the lira? 

 being unequal, the larger running parallel with the larger spines, 

 which are somewhat acutely ridged behind and of a brownish tint. 

 The aperture is white, exhibiting traces of three pale brownish 

 zones. The outer lip is thin at the edge and denticulated. The 

 canal is straight, curving a little to the right near the tip. Length 

 58 millim. ; aperture and canal 41 long. 



Iln'i. Arafura Sea, Dundas Straits, 17 fms. 



This may prove eventually a remarkable variety of 31. nigrispi- 

 of Reeve, the only species it is likely to be confounded with. 

 Thai species, although attaining a larger size, consists of only eight 

 whorls, whilst in M. coppingeri I count nine and a half. The 

 nucleus of the latter consists of two and a half, which are a little 

 convex, together forming a blunt-topped cone. In the former 

 species there are two nuclear volutions very convex, forming a glo- 

 bose apex. Both species have three varices to a whorl; but in the 

 interstices in M. nigrispinosa three or even more nodose costas are 

 met with, whilst in the present species there are but two, and these 



