Zoological Illustrations Series II/Plate 100

by William Swainson

MURICINÆ. Pl. 3.
Murex euristomus

Plate 100.

MUREX (Centronotus) eurystomus,

Wide mouthed Murex.

Family Cassidæ, Sub-family Muricinæ, Nob. Genus. Murex Auct.

Synopsis of the Sub-genera.

1. Typical.
Canal very long: Shell armed with tooth-like spines mostly arranged in three varices	Murex Auct.
2. Sub-Typical (?).
Canal very long: Shell without spines, varices tuberculated.	Haustellaria. Sw.
3. Aberrant.
Canal moderate: Shell with foliated or compressed varices.
1. Varices foliated, mostly three.	Phyllonotus. Sw.
2. Varices numerous, mostly acute.	Centronotus. Sw.
3. Varices compressed, fin shaped.	Pterynotus. Sw.

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Specific Character.

Shell with from 7 to 8 simple foliated varices; body whorl with three brown bands; aperture effuse, tinged with rosey; umbelicus very large.

Murex Saxatilis. Auct. Lamark. 7. p. 167. Martini. pl. 108. f. 1013.

We feel some surprize that Lamark should have viewed this large and imposing Murex as one of the varieties of Saxatilis, from which it is unquestionably distinct. It is by no means common, nor do we know its precise locality.

In directing the attention of the philosophic Zoologist to the above synopsis, we feel called upon to express our opinion on the unfortunate Denis De Montford, whose labours, however honoured in his own country, have neither been understood nor appreciated in this. We can say of him, what can be said of very few, that he had an intuitive perception of natural groups. And if we cannot place him on a par with his great rival Lamark, in the extent of his researches, or the polished accuracy of his names, we can safely affirm that in other respects, he is fully equal, either to him, or to any of his successors.

There are some extraordinary analogies between the natural types of this genus, and the series of vertebrated animals, which we cannot at present develope. Nor can our doubts on the Sub-typical form, which we rather think has not been discovered, effect any alteration of the series here pointed out.