GASTEROPODA. 



213 



aro now kno"wn to have no affinity with the Atlantidse, but to 

 be tbe larva form of species belonging to the Muricidse. 



Fig. T6. Murex tenuispina. (Wilton.) 



Mtjeex (Pliny), L. 



Types, M. palma-rosse, PI. lY., Fig. 10. M. tenuispina, PI. 

 rV., Fig. 9. M. haustellum, PL lY., Fig. 8. M. radix, 

 pinnatus. 



Shell ornamented with three or more continuous longitudinal 

 varices ; aperture rounded ; beak often very long ; canal partly 

 slosed; operculum concentric, nucleus sup-apical (PL lY., Fig. 

 10) ; lingual dentition (M. erinaceus), teeth single, three 

 3rested ; uncini single, curved. For dentition of M. tenuispina 

 see Fig. Y8. 



Distribution, 220 species. World-wide ; most abundant on 

 the West Coast of tropical America, in the Chinese Sea, West 

 Coast of Africa, West Indies; ranging from low water to 25 

 fathoms, rarely at 60 fathoms. 



Fossil, 164 species. Eocene — . Britain, France, Java, &c. 



A few of the species usually referred to this genus belong to 

 pisania and trophon. 



The murices appear to form only one-third of a whorl 

 annually, ending in a varix; some species form intermediate 

 varices of less extent. M. erinaceus, a very abundant species on 

 the coasts of the channel, is called " sting- winkle" by fisher- 

 men, who say it makes round holes in the other shell-fish with 

 its beak. (See p. 21.) The ancients obtained their purple dye 

 from species of murex ; the small shells weise bruised in mortars, 

 the animals of the larger ones taken out. (F. Col.) Heaps 

 of broken shells of the M. trunculus and caldron- shaped holes 

 in the rocks may still be seen on the Tyrian shore. (Wilde.) On 

 the coast of the Morea there is similar evidence of the employ- 

 ment of M. hrandaris for the same purpose. (M. Boblaye.) 



Typhis, Montfort. 

 Etymology, typhos, smoke. 



