Species of which the varices have elongated spines; beak sulcated; outer lip internally crenated; acute, short, distinct muricated tubercles; fawn coloured.
10. Murex. The Trumpet Shell. Sixty-six species.
Though so greatly divided by Lamarck, this is a beautiful and numerous genus, comprehending only such shells as have three or more varices on each whorl.
These varices show the number of times the animal has increased the size of its shell, and what proportion is added at each increase.
The shells are generally irregular in form, arising from their surfaces being usually armed with spines, knobs, striæ, or foliations.
Shell generally oval; the spire always but little elevated, armed with longitudinal transverse varices or thickened bands; aperture small; very oval and symmetrical by the excavation of the left edge, formed by a plate applied on the columella, terminated anteriorly by a middling sized canal, sometimes very long and close; the right edge more or less adorned with varices; operculum horny, oval, complete, almost circular, with sub-concentric partitions; summit terminal.
Murex crassispina.
M. Haustellum.
M. acanthopterus.
M. tenuispina.