MUREX ROCK SHELL. 93 



The animal has a long proboscis and two 

 thread-shaped tentacula of a pink colour. 



This species is rather common on many of the 

 coasts of Great Britain, but is chiefly met with 

 on sandy shores. 



STROMBUS Chiragra* 

 SAVAGE CLAW. 



Specific character. Shell ovate, turreted ; 

 spire short, tuberculated ; outer lip having six 

 strong curved claws, the sinus not immediately 

 at the base ; mouth striated ; colour white mot- 

 tled with brown ; lips orange colour with black 

 and white stripes ; outside generally coated with 

 a thin horny epidermis ; size about five inches 

 long and three broad, not including the claws, 

 which are from two to three inches long, the up- 

 per and lower ones curved in opposite directions. 



This shell exhibits a very different appearance 

 at its different periods of growth. 



GENUS. MUREX.f 



ROCK SHELL. 



Generic character. Shell univalve, spirally 

 convoluted, canaliculated, rough with spires, 



* Signifying, savage claw, from the Greek words *P, (cheir) 

 hand, and aypa, (agra) fierce or savage. 



f Probably named from the Latin, murex, the primary significa- 

 tion of which seems to have been the sharp point of a rock. Plate 

 IV. figure 1, 2, 3. 



