11^' 



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The fliell figured by Mr. Donovan for the Linnaan def- 

 pecius, we are not authorifed to refer to as E/igii/b, having 

 been figured more for the fake of comparifon than with a 

 view to infert it in the catalogue of Briti/hJIjells, 



We fhall here remark that a fpecimen oiMurex cantiatus, 

 of Pennant, has been recently taken on the Scotif} coaft by 

 Mr. Laskey, who, at the time of communication, obferved 

 that he thought it diftin6l, and not a variety of what we 

 had formerly confidered the mitlquus. 



In this place it may not be improper to note tliat we have 

 received from a friend, a fliell under tlie title of Murex de^ 

 collatus, which appears to be without doubt the infant ftate 

 of this fpecies. 



Moft colleflors in this branch of fcience have the />/</// of 

 fotne fpecies of Murex marked with this name, and confe- 

 quently every unformed fiiell wanting a finifli to the apex, 

 has been confidered the fame ; whereas almolt all the larger 

 fliells have, w henfirft excluded from the ova, a globofe ter- 

 mination, Thofe figured by Pennant and Donovan appear 

 to differ from the one in quefiion. This is of the fame form 

 and colour as our defpeSlus, and differs in nothing but in the 

 apex being globofe, and defi^itute of the replication or thick- 

 ening on the columella ; it is (lightly fiiriated in both direc- 

 tions like that (liell, and infiead of the columella being repli- 

 cated, there are two flight ridges that run fpirally into the 

 aperture, but which in older fliells are covered and lofl in 



P the 



