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BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
them. There is much variation in the longitudinal sculpture of the species. A. anceps often has a 
double row of varices on each edge of the flattened shell, a larger and a smaller one; sometimes it has 
only a single row on each edge, and there is a tendency in the other species to occasionally assume 
this Randla - like arrangement of the varices. Reeve’s figure in the Conchologia Iconiea of Ranella 
hasiula, a member of this group, is somewhat misleading, as it represents a rich brown shell with 
yellow varices. 
Aspella scalaroides Blainville. 
ilurex scalaroides Blainville, Faune Francaise, p. 131, pi. v, figs. 5, 6, 1826. 
Shell elongated, with elevated spire and short, recurved canal, with eight whorls; principal 
varices three, with three smaller, intermediate ones which sometimes degenerate into ribs, with 
strong revolving ridges; surface covered with fine revolving threads, the spaces between the revolving 
ridges pitted at the principal varices and sometimes at the smaller ones; surface chalky or spongy, 
whitish, revealing, when eroded, the hard, milky-white layer beneath; aperture elliptical; outer lip 
somewhat toothed within. 
Length, 25; diameter, 10 mm. 
Puerto Real, Porto Rico, one young shell. 
The young shells of this species have a resemblance to Trophon. 
Subfamily PURPURINi®. 
Genus PURPURA Bruguiere, 1789. 
Shell with short to moderate spire and large aperture; surface sculptured, but not varicose; 
columella arched, generally flattened, sometimes excavated; canal short, with a deep notch; operculum 
with the nucleus at the middle of one side. 
Purpura patula Linnseus. 
Buccinum patulum Linnfeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, p.739,1758. 
Purpura patula Reeve, Conch. Icon., Ill, pi. 1, fig. 3, 1846. 
Shell large, ovate, with a short spire, the whorls rounded; sculpture consisting of revolving rows 
of rather sharp tubercles, which are less distinct in the mature shells, and in addition to this the whole 
surface is covered with revolving threads, which are slightly decussated by the growth lines; aperture 
very large, elliptical, patulous; outer lip with a series of short ridgelike teeth within the border; 
canal small, scarcely notched on the base; columella arched, very wide, and more or less excavated. 
Color blackish brown, often lined or irregularly banded with white. The adult shells are generally so 
eroded that the color can not be made out. The inside of the outer lip is bordered with dark brown, 
the interior is coppery or bluish, the columella is light brown sometimes shaded with white, and there 
is a very dark patch at its upper left-hand part. 
Length, 80; diameter, 55; of aperture, 70; width of aperture, 50; width of columella, 23 mm. 
Hucares; San Juan; Aguadilla; Guanica; San Geronimo, Porto Rico; West Indian region 
generally. 
Purpura haemastoma var. undata Lamarck. 
Purpura undata Lamarck, An. sans. Vert., vil, p. 238, 1822. 
Purpura fasciata Reeve, Conch. Icon., in, pi. ix, fig. 45, 1846. 
This variety of the common variable and widely distributed P. htemastoma is common through 
the West Indian region and the Florida Keys. In general it is rather slender and has a couple of 
rows of low tubercles on the body whorl, one of these continuing up the spire, and from this it varies 
to forms that are almost smooth. All the specimens have low revolving threads more or less developed. 
The color is purplish brown, more or less fasciate or blotched with white, the aperture bluish and 
generally fasciate. 
Length, 30; diameter, 20 mm. 
Aguadilla; San Geronimo; Mayaguez; San Juan, Porto Rico; Caballo Blanco Reef, Vieques; 
Culebra. 
