CER1THIOPSIS. 271 



This differs from both the preceding species in its 

 more cylindrical shape, cancellated sculpture, shorter 

 and turret ed spire, and in having fewer whorls. 



4. C. METAXA*,U)elle Chiaje.) >l-*i- 



Murex Metaxa, Delle Ch. Mem. iii. p. 222, t. xlix. f. 29-3] . 



SHELL forming an elongated cylinder, solid, opaque, glossy 

 when fresh : sculpture, 5 strong and rather broad spiral ridges on 

 the body- whorl, and 4 on each of the other whorls, except on 

 those at the apex, which are quite smooth ; the two ridges on 

 the middle of the body- whorl, and the upper two on the other 

 whorls, are more prominent than the rest ; all the ridges are 

 crossed by fine longitudinal ribs (about 25 on the lowest ridge), 

 which by decussation produce sharpish tubercles, and give 

 a muricated aspect to the shell ; the peripheral ridge, however, 

 is less tuberculated and sometimes smooth ; the base (which 

 is rounded in adult specimens) is obliquely girded by a slight 

 ridge : colour pale yellowish-brown : spire finely tapering, and 

 greatly extended ; the terminal part is not so disproportionately 

 small or narrow as in any of the species before described: 

 whorls 14-15, convex and rounded, the last occupying one- 

 third of the shell, viewed with the mouth upwards : suture 

 wide and deep: mouth small, roundish- oval, abruptly and 

 widely truncated at the base ; its length in proportion to that 

 of the spire is as 1 to 5 : cfinal extremely short, and rather 

 wide, open, and terminating in a deep notch : outer lip semi- 

 circular, but not prominent ; edge scalloped by the five ridges ; 

 inside smooth ; upper side contracted into a small sinus : 

 inner lip rather slight, reflected on the pillar, and continuous 

 with the outer lip at the upper corner of the mouth : pillar 

 very short, more or less curved. L. 0-25. B. 0-075. 



HABITAT : Guernsey, 22 f. (Lukis and J. G. J.) ; 

 Herm (Barlee and Norman) ; Land's End, and St. Mer- 

 ryn near Padstow (Hockin) ; Shetland (Barlee) . It is 

 a scarce shell. Coralline Crag at Sutton (S. Wood). 

 Sestri di Levante (J. G. J.); Naples (Delle Chiaje and 



* The name of an Italian naturalist, author of a monograph on the 

 serpents of Rome and its vicinity. 



