THE MOLLUSCA HEDLEY. 



459 



MUREX RADULA, Sp. HOV. 

 (Fig. 36). 



Shell small, fusiform. Colour cream, 

 spines orange, columella pale lilac. 

 Whorls seven. Sculpture eight feeble 

 varices alternating on each whorl. On 

 the third and fourth whorls they are 

 proportionately much stronger and are 

 angled at the periphery. The body 

 whorl has eleven spiral cords, narrower 

 than their interstices ; both are over- 

 ridden by fine lamellae in the line of 

 growth. At frequent intervals these 

 cords produce small, short, tubular, 

 orange spines, which lend a conspicuous 

 and recognizable aspect to the shell. 

 Apex of three whorls conical, smooth, 

 and glossy. Aperture simple, lip sharp, 

 canal broad and open. Length 9, 

 breadth 4 mm. 



Fig. 36. 



A single specimen, taken at a depth of forty to eighty fathoms 

 with the preceding. This specimen is perhaps immature, but differs 

 so much from any with which I am acquainted as to be considered 

 worthy of description. 



PURPURA HIPPOCASTANEUM, Lamarck. 

 Tryon, loc. cit., p. 162, pi. xlv., figs. 36-43 ; pi. xlvi., fig. 45. 



Abundant on the outer reef of Funafuti. Tryon quotes this 

 from the Paumotus, and Melvill and Standen from the Loyalty. 

 In this Museum are instances from Queensland, Fiji, and the 

 Solomons. Both Cooke* and Smithf condemn the treatment of 

 the species in the reference quoted above, but, unfortunately for 

 puzzled students, both think it " needless to discuss the matter at 

 length." 



The species seems to me to stand nearer Sistrum than Purpura. 

 The natives called this " matapoto." 



PURPURA ARMIGERA, Chemnitz. 

 Tryon, loc. cit., p. 163, pi. xlvi., figs, 50, 51. 



Abundant on the outer reef of Funafuti, where its massive 

 shell enables it to withstand the heaviest surf. In aged speci- 

 mens the projecting points -are worn down to the stump. 



* Cooke Journ. Conch., v., 1888, p. 323. 

 t Smith Proc. Zool. Soc., 1891, p. 408. 



