M U R £ X {Centronotus) eurystomus, 

 Wide mouthed Murex. 



Family Cassidoe, Sub-family Muricinae, Nob. Genus. Murex Auct. 



Synopsis of the Sub-gfnera. 

 1 . Typical. 

 Canal very long : Shell armed with tooth-like 



spines mostly arranged in three varices Murex Auct. 

 2. Sub-Typical (?). 

 Canal very long : Shell without spines, varices 



tuberculated. Haustellaria. Sw. 



3. Aberrant. 



Canal moderate : Shell with foliated or com- 

 pressed varices. 



1. Varices foliated, mostly three. Phyllonotus. Sw. 



2. Varices numerous, mostly acute. Centronotus. Sw. 



3. Varices compressed, fin shaped. Pterynotus. Sw. 



Specific Character. 



Shell with from 7 to 8 simple foliated varices ; body whorl with 

 three brown bands ; aperture effuse, tinged with roscy ; 

 umbelicus very large. 



Murex Saxatilis. Auct. Lamark.l.p. 167. Martini.pl. 103./. 1013. 



We feel some surprize that Lamark should have viewed this 

 large and imposing Murex as one of the varieties of Saxa- 

 tilis, from which it is unquestionably distinct. It is by no 

 means common, nor do we know its precise locality. 



In directing the attention of the philosophic Zoologist to 

 the above synopsis, we feel called upon to express our 

 opinion on the unfortunate Denis De Montford, whose 

 labours, however honoured in his own country, have neither 

 been understood nor appreciated in this. We can say of 

 him, what can be said of very few, that he had an intuitive 

 perception of natural groups. And if we cannot place him on 

 a par with his great rival Lamark, in the extent of his 

 researches, or the polished accuracy of his names, we can 

 safely affirm that in other respects, he is fully equal, either 

 to him, or to any of his successors. 



There are some extraordinary analogies between the 

 natural types of this genus, and the series of vertebrated 

 animals, which we cannot at present develope. Nor can 

 our doubts on the Sub-typical form, which Ave rather think 

 has not been discovered, effect any alteration of the series 

 here pointed out. 



100. 



