TRITON 



TESTA oblonga, varicosa, varicibus raris ; spira 

 prominula, apice acuto; apertura sub orbicular!; 

 labio externo incrassato, reflexo, eolumellari 

 rugoso; canali longiusculo, subrecurvo; epider- 

 mide distincta, plerumque pilosa; operculo 

 corneo. 



We think that the Triton may be considered as a natural 

 genus, because the shells which compose it resemble each 

 other pretty nearly in general appearance. They have 

 been arranged by Linneans with the Murices, and some 

 species appear to connect these two genera together; 

 the principal marks of distinction being in the number 

 of varices, which are more frequent in Murex than in 

 Triton; and in the rugosity of the inner lip, which is 

 scarcely ever to be observed in Murex. 



The Tritones are of an oblong form, with a rather 

 prominent spire, acute at its apex ; varices, never more 

 than two in a whorl, ornament the outside ; aperture 

 nearly rounds outer lip thickened, reflected; inner lip 

 rugose; canal somewhat elongated, and turned back- 

 wards. A strong horny epidermis naturally coats the 

 Tritones; and this epidermis is often fringed with strong 

 hairs. Operculum horny. 



The species of this genus are not very numerous, 

 they occur in the seas of warm climates, particularly 

 in the East and West Indies, and among the Islands of 

 the South Seas. Some large species also abound in the 

 Mediterranean; and it appears very probable that one of 

 these is the shell from whose animal the ancients obtained 



