ART. VI.— OBSERVATIONS ON A SHELL IN THE CABI- 

 NET OF THE BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



SUPPOSED TO BE IDENTICAL WITH THE MUREX ARUANUS OF 



LINNiEUS AND THE FUSUS PROBOSCIDIFERUS of LA- 

 MARCK. Read Dec. 18, 1833. By A. Binnev. 



The systematic works on Conchology contain many 

 descriptions of shells, made up from reading and copying 

 rather than observation, in whicli error is so blended with 

 truth, that it is difficult to distinguish the species intended 

 to be referred to. This happens sometimes in consequence 

 of the great rarity of the shell, which cannot be obtained 

 for comparison with former descriptions, and sometimes 

 fi'om the carelessness of the compiler, who takes upon 

 trust, w^hat has been copied from author to author, instead 

 of seeking the original sources for correct information. 

 A remarkable instance, in which probably both of these 

 causes have combined to produce error, occurs in the 

 descriptions of the shell to which LInnseus gave tlie name 

 of Murex Arudnus. This species is extremely rare in 

 this country ; the specimen under consideration being the 

 only one which has come under my observation in the 

 principal cabinets ; and as the most recent conchological 

 works only copy the description, and refer to the figures 

 of the early authors, w^hich would not be the case if it 

 could be found in the public collections, it may be con- 

 sidered equally uncommon in Europe. It is the largest 

 and heaviest of the univalve shells, and its characters are 

 so distinct and well marked, that it could not have escaped 

 the attention of conchologists, had it been more common^ 



ing remarks. 



wiU 



