.MUREX. 79 



degrees of spinous development of this species. M. Troscheli, 

 Lischke (fig. Ill) is founded on a very large, stout specimen, 

 which, when perfect, must have been nearly 7 inches in length. I 

 place it here ; yet it has affinities with M. tribulus, particularly 

 in its solid, stout appearance. 



M. SOBRINUS, A. Ad. Suppl. PL, fig. 536. 



The seven whorls are convex, longitudinally nodosely plicate 

 and transversely lirate, very spiny ; the long, straight canal is 

 spiny ; the body whorl has two reddish-brown bands. 



Length, 36 mill. 



Japan, 29 to 55 fms. 



M. RARISPINA, Lam. PI. 10, fig. 115 ; PI. 11, fig. 119. 



The best character of this form is found in the great develop- 

 ment of the superior spines on the body whorl. The lower part 

 of the canal is smooth, and the upper part has only a few short 



spines. Length, 3*5 inches. 



Indian 0. 



M. Mindanensis, Sowb., (fig. 119) I believe to be a depauperate 

 state of this species. Messrs. Kiener & Reeve consider M. 

 formosus > Sowb., (fig. 115), a synonym, and as the former cites 

 rarispina in the Lamarckian collection, I am disposed to agree 

 with them. Mr. Sowerb^y figures an entirely different shell for 

 rarixpiiia a shell which appears to me to be a M. tribulus. 



M. BREVISPINA, Lam. PI. 11, fig.121 ; PL 24, fig. 209. 



The spines are very short, scarcely longer than the tubercles 

 which, in double series, two in each, divide the space between the 

 varices ; these tubercles define a someAvhat flattened periphery. 



Length, 3 inches. 



Red Sea, Ind. 0., So. Africa, N. Australia, 6-11 fms. 



31. seniUs, Jousseaume, (fig. 209), can scarcely be regarded as 

 more than a thin variety of this species, in which the spines are 

 better developed. It is said to inhabit the Philippine seas. 



M. CONCINNUS, Reeve. PL 11, fig. 122. 



The colored, narrow revolving lines, and short, direct spines 

 give this shell a very lively appearance. Only a single specimen 

 is known (Metcalfe Museum). It can scarcely be regarded as a 

 well-established species because these narrow bands are found in 



