Baker — Critical Notes on the Muricidae. 379 



it is separated from simiUs, Sovvb., by the greater elevation of 

 the spire, straight canal, which in similis is recurved, and by 

 having but three intervarical nodes whilst similis generally 

 has four. The canal in similis is only twice the length of the 

 aperture, while that of rectirostris is three times the length. 

 The spiral striation in similis is much finer than in rectirostris. 

 The character which will at once separate it from all related 

 forms is the presence of the carina on the second apical whorl. 



MUREX MlNDANENSIS Sowb. 



Murex Mindanensis Sowb,, Conch. HI., flg. 92. 



In the more elongated spire and fusoid form this species dif- 

 fers specifically from Murex rarispina Lam. ; the spines in the 

 latter species are longer and the general character of the shell 

 more robust than in the present species. The most notice- 

 able character of rarispina is the great development of the 

 superior spines of the body -whorl, they being eight times the 

 length of the other spines. It is from the Island of Mindanao, 

 Philippines. 



Murex Beaui Fischer and Bernardi. 



Murex Beaui Fischer and Bernard!, Joani. de Conch., V., p. 295, pi. viii, 

 flg. 1, 1856. 



This distinct species has recently been found in considerable 

 quantity in and about the Gulf of Mexico. The additional 

 localities are as follows: Florida Reefs, 119 fms. ; Barbados, 

 82 fms. ; off Frederickstadt, Santa Cruz, in 115 fms., on a 

 rocky bottom ; Saba Bank, 254 fms., sand ; off Guadalupe, 183 

 fms. ; south of Cuba, 254 fms., sand ; between the delta of the 

 Mississippi river and Cedar Keys, Florida, in 111 fms., mud. 



Murex pliciferus Sowb. 



Murex pliciferus, Proc. Zool. Soc, p. 138, 1840. Conch. 111., flg. 101. 



After a careful study of more than fifty specimens of this 

 species I am convinced that its proper place is in the typical 

 Murices rather than in Chicoreus. The shell has the same gen- 

 eral characteristics as similis, motacilla, antillarum, etc., and 

 is the most fusiform Murex yet described. It is not a syn- 

 onym or even a variety of calcar Kiener, as has been thought 

 by some authors. It is a Japanese species. 



