MUREX (Phyllonotus) Imperial is. 

 Imperial Mured 1 , var. a - 



Genus Murex. Sub-genus Phyllonotus. Nob, 



Sub-Generic Characters. 



See pi. 100. 



Specific Character. 

 See pi. 67. 



In a popular work like this, we wish to consult the taste of 

 the amateur, no less than of the philosophic naturalist ; and 

 with this object we have delineated a beautiful variety, 

 having the aperture rose colour, of the Murex imperialis 

 already figured at pi. 67 of our second volume. It was 

 then in the possession of Messrs. Stuchbury, and was 

 nearly the only one, among' very many of the usual orange- 

 mouthed specimens, which came to their hands. 



We have already intimated that the series of types in 

 this genus, (see pi. 100) besides possessing innumerable 

 analogies in the class Mollusa, exhibits a most singular 

 one with the series of vertebrated animals; four of which 

 can be traced by comparing them with four of the classes 

 of the vertebrated circle. Commencing with Phyllonotus, 

 we may call them, from the hideous and repulsive aspect 

 of many of the species, the Reptile type, as the name 

 given to one (Murex scorjrioj, sufficiently intimates. In 

 the tooth-like spines of Murex tenuispinosus we see some 

 resemblance to the teeth of quadrupeds : the Murex haus- 

 tellum has been well compared to the head of a snipe, 

 while in the fin shaped varices of Murex pinnatus, we 

 have a representation of the Jish. If the analogy between 

 Centronotus and the Amphibia cannot be traced, it is 

 because the latter has so few forms ; but the Hedgehogs, 

 which represent the Amphibia in the circle of Quadrupeds, 

 are again represented under the form of a shell, in (bo 

 sub-genus Centronotus. These analogies, however remote 

 are unquestionably natural, because they follow each other 

 in a uniform series. 



Thus, Murex . . represents Mammalia. 



Haustellaria .... Aves. 



Pterynotus Pisces. 



Centronotus ... Amphibea — Hystrix. 



Phyllonotus .... Reptilia. 



109 



