The Murex Shells. Rock Shells 



The Hedgehog Murex (M. erinaceus, Linn.) is the "sting 

 winkle" of the English fisherman, the French "cormaillot" or 

 "perceur." It invades the oyster beds, and destroys young and 

 old, boring through the bivalve shell, and sucking out its soft 

 contents. When the bored shell gapes, crabs, fishes and other 

 sea scavengers devour the solid muscular parts — "pick the 

 bones" — while the more dainty Murex seeks new victims. It 

 never touches dead flesh. 



The habits of this depredator of the oyster beds have been 

 thoroughly investigated. Four hours, more or less, are required 

 to drill the hole. The lingual ribbon is set upon a spot near the 

 hinge of the victim's shell. Then the body of the borer is swayed 

 from left to right until a small hole is made by the rasping tongue. 

 Young borers choose young victims; mature individuals choose 

 older ones. 



The Hedgehog Murex has four to seven varices, which are 

 wing-like, and crossed by strong cord-like spiral ribs. Sometimes 

 these crossings form prominent nodules; secondary ones and 

 scale-like protuberances occur between the varices, quite justifying 

 the common name by which this creature is known. Other forms 

 have low rounded nodules only. Some lack varices. The shell has a 

 dingy brown colour. The outer lip wears an elegant festooned frill. 



Fishermen hunt this enemy in the oyster beds, cutting off 

 its foot above the operculum, and leaving it to die. Length, ij 

 to 2 inches. 



Habitat. — Norway to the Azores and Black Sea. 



The Brown Murex (M. aciculatus, Lam.) is a sharp-pointed, 

 neatly ribbed and cross-striated brown shell, found on rocks at 

 low water. Its body is scarlet, dotted with yellow. The canal 

 is short, open and recurved. Length, \ inch. 



Habitat. — Channel Islands to Mediterranean and Azores. 



Sub-genus Ocinebra is well represented on the west coast 

 of the United States. 



The Carved Murex {M. incisus, Brod.) is white, with fine 

 spiral chestnut lines crossing its seven thick, rounded varices. 

 Living among and under Fucus, the shells have an olive coating. 

 At the top of each varix is a spine which curls over a deep pit in 

 the suture. This species is found on rocks, eight fathoms deep. 

 Length, li to i finches. 



Habitat. — Santa Catalina Island. 



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