UNIVALVES. MUREX. 107 



The Murices are generally of an irregular form, arising 

 from their surfaces being usually covered with spines, 

 knobs, striae, or foliations. One division is peculiar for 

 the uncommon length of beak, which most of its species 

 are remarked for; the principal is M. tribulus, of which 

 there are two varieties, the common called the thorny 

 woodcock, and the rarer, after the French, peigne de Venus, 

 or Venus's comb, which is not only considered a rarity, but 

 is perhaps one of the most elegant shells of the genus ; it 

 is most beautifully adorned with thin and delicate spines, 

 disposed longitudinally in three regular rows. To this 

 same division belong also the M. cornutus and M. bran- 

 daris; the former grows to a considerable size, and is by 

 no means common. 



The third division includes those species that have a 

 much shorter beak, and are more foliated than spinous ; 

 such are the M. trunculus, M. pomum, and M. radix; the 

 latter grows to a considerable size and is much valued; its 

 shell is beset with numerous rows of frondose, black, un- 

 dulate spines, which being contrasted with opaque-white 

 renders it an object of great beauty. It also comprises 

 those species which are commonly called Triplices, or more 

 properly Purpurae, as the animals inhabiting most of the 

 shells of this division possess the property of affording a rich 

 purple juice or liquid; from this circumstance the Avhole 

 genus has by some authors been called Purpura. The shells 

 have their sutures composed of crisped foliations and acute 

 angular ramifications; among those best known are the 

 pink and yellow-mouthed varieties of the M. saxatilis, which 

 are exceedingly rare and beautiful. The number of rows 

 in the foliated sutures differs considerably, some (as the 

 M. ramosus, &c.) have only three, the M. scorpio has four, 

 the M. saxatilis five, and the M. radix has nine. 



The next division is composed of the species that have 



