The Murex Shells. Rock Shells 



surface is yellowish brown. The toothed and frilled outer lip 

 bears three brown spots. The columella is wide, with erect edge, 

 brown and faintly wrinkled. The canal is short, recurved and 

 flattened. Length, 4 to 5 inches. 



Habitat. — West Indies. 



The Single-tooth Murex (M. monodon, Sby.) has three 

 strikingly long curving spines on each of the varices. One from 

 the upper end of the canal describes a semicircle, curving over 

 the back of the shell. A single strong tooth rises from the lower 

 border of the outer lip. The columella and outer lip are rosy 

 tinted. The exterior is usually brown, with black fronds. There 

 is a white variety. No more elegantly decorated shell exists 

 than this one, with its long, frond-like branching spines, arching 

 in graceful curves from the deeply grooved body of the shell. 

 Length, 4^ inches. 



Habitat. — Australia. 



The Branched Murex (M. ramosus, Linn.) is the largest 

 species in the genus, attaining a foot in length, and corresponding 

 weight and solidity. This is a favourite ornament for cabinets 

 and mantelpieces all over the world. The three varices bear 

 rows of recurving spiny fronds, conspicuous for their size and 

 elaborate ornamentation. The outside is white, coloured with 

 brown and circled with fine brown lines. The aperture is rimmed 

 with rose pink. Young specimens are more nearly covered with 

 fronds than old ones. Length, 6 to 12 inches. 



Habitat. — Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Central Pacific Islands, 

 Australia, China. 



Sub-genus RHINOCANTHA, H. and A. Ads. 



Differs from typical Murices in having four or more varices. 



The Horned Murex (M. cornutus, Linn.) is club-shaped 

 with seven varices, each armed with two or three long, hollow, 

 backward-turning horns. The spire is depressed, the walls thin, 

 the body whorl swollen. The surface is finely ridged. The very 

 long canal bears a spiral row of short spines. The colour is ashy 

 brown, or paler. Length, 6 inches. 



Habitat. — West Coast of Africa. 



The Straight-spine Murex (M. brandaris, Linn.) somewhat 

 closely resembles M. cornuta, but is smaller throughout. Each 

 of its six varices bears two, short diverging spines. This common 



32 



