374 Trans. Acad. ScL of St. Louis. 



MuREx CoppiNGERi, E. A. Smith. 



Murex coppingeri, E. A. Smith, Zool. Voyage of H. M. S. Alert, p. 42, 

 pi. 5, fig. 9. 



It seems to me very doubtful if this species will prove to 

 be more than a variety of Murex tribulus. I have seen many 

 specimens of var. nigrospinosus which would answer very 

 well to the description and figure of this species. Mr. Smith 

 says of it, "This may prove eventually a remarkable variety 

 of M. nigrospinosa of Reeve, the only species it is likely to 

 be confounded with. That species, although attaining a larger 

 size, consists of only eight whorls, whilst in M. Coppingeri I 

 count nine and a half. The nucleus of the latter consists of 

 two and a half whorls, which are a little convex, together 

 forming a blunt-topped cone. In the former species there 

 are two nuclear volutions very convex, forming a globose 

 apex. * * * in the interstices in M. nigrospinosus three 

 or even more nodose costaeare met with, whilst in the present 

 species there are but two, and these are not nodulous. * * * 

 M. tribulus has a different apex, more convex whorls, different 

 coloration, and much coarser and nodose spiral ridging. The 

 number and position of the spines is seen to be very similar in 

 all three species when closely and carefully compared." From 

 the above remarks, and from the fact that specimens of 

 tribulus which have passed through my hands are so nearly 

 like the species in question, I should be strongly inclined to 

 place Coppingeri, either as a synonym, or at most as a variety 

 of M. tribulus. The species was found in the Arafura Sea, 

 Dundas Straits, in 17 fathoms. 



Murex serratospinosus, Dunker. 



Murex serratospinosus, Dunker, Malakozoologischer BlStter, p. 35, pi. 1, 

 fig. 4, 5, 1883. 



This is a distinct little shell, and the description of it is not 

 in the reach of the average conchologist. I believe, there- 

 fore, that a translation of the original description will not be 

 out of place here. " Shell solid, with three varices, whitish 

 encircled by wide yellowish bands, on the varices pale 

 ferruginous, and nearly equal lirae, longitudinally plicate- 

 costate. Varices thick, rounded, serrate-spinose in front, 

 posteriorly hollowed-subcanaliculate ; intervarical folds two 



