MUSEUM OF COMPAKATIVE ZOOLOGY. 213 



Muricidea multangula Philippi. 



Fusus mnltanfjuhts Phillppi, Zeitschr. fiir Mai., V. p. 25, 1849; Abbild. u. Beschr., 



III. p. 117, t xxiv. 1, fig. 0, 1850. 

 Muricidea Ucmphlllii Dull, lletnpliill's Sliells, p. 327, 1883. 



Tliis fine species ranges from Cape Fear to Florida, Yucatan, and the West 

 Indies. It varies greatly in color and ol'ten has a rich pink mouth. When 

 in its highest state of perfection the epidermis is rendered hispid by little 

 triangular projecting points. In most specimens, even when taken alive, 

 the epidermis is smooth, the points having been rubbed off. There is a raised 

 anterior edge to the pillar in the adult. The operculum is fusoid. I have 

 not examined the dentition, but think it possible that its true place may per- 

 haps be with Fusus, in spite of the short canal. It is one of our most elegant 

 species. 



Muricidea Philippiana n. s. 



Shell short, acutely fusiform, solid, with about five whorls; spire acute, 

 suture flexuous, appressed; slope of the spire nearly flat, the turns being flat- 

 tened or even slightly excavated above the periphery; transverse sculpture of 

 lines of growth, and of (on the last whorl nine) peripheral undulations or ribs 

 with about equal interspaces ; these are almost confined to the periphery ; in 

 one specimen these are crossed by three or four about equidistant spiral ridges, 

 faint, becoming prominent and keeled or nodulous on the ribs; this one has 

 also two strong ridges on the canal, and is pure white; another specimen has 

 only faint spiral striae on the canal, the periphery is smooth, the ribs lumpy, 

 the color white with spiral brown lines toward the periphery; in still another 

 the posterior row of nodulations becomes short, sharp, and spinous, the revolv- 

 ing threads seem more numerous on the base; canal short, rapidly tapering, 

 open, pointed; a well marked siphonal fasciole is normal, one hardly shows it, 

 another has it funicular; aperture elongate oval, outer lip with 5-7 strong 

 lirae within; margin simple, acute; throat porcelain-white with a tendency to 

 rosy or purple; columella smooth with a dash of rose or purple in some speci- 

 mens, and two or three faint granulations, in the perfectly adult, near its an- 

 terior edge. Max. Ion. of shell, 17.4; of last whorl, 12.4; of aperture, 10.0; 

 max. lat. of aperture, 4.5; of shell, 10.5 mm. 



Habitat. U. S. Fish Commission Stations 2362, 2363, off Cape Catoche, 

 Yucatan, in 20-25 fms., coral sand; and by Hemphill at Key West, among 

 coral at low water. 



This is a singular shell, over which I have puzzled for some time. It has 

 features recalling Latirus, Tritonidea, etc., but seems most fairly placed here. 

 It is almost always overgro\NTi with calcareous algas; one has had this coat 

 gnawed off by some vegetarian nioUusk, the result of which is a pretty ver- 

 micular surface sculpture, which looks as if it might be natural. The most 

 characteristic feature of the shell is the peculiar half translucent milk-and-water 

 whiteness of its substance. 



