Sub-genus CEROSTOMA, Conr.
Operculum with nucleus lateral; varices, three, wing-like; aperture toothed inside lip, usually with one large tooth near base. Much like Pteronotus.
The Murex (M. trialatus, Sby.) is the prize of the collector in Southern California. It is taken by dredging off San Pedro and San Diego. Three flaring, thin, often reflexed wings adorn its spire; its pale surface is banded between the varices with dark brown. The lip tooth is wanting. Length, 2 to 3 inches.
The Leaf Murex (M. foliatus, Martyn) is white, with chest nut bands, and a pronounced tooth on the lip, which distinguishes it from M. trialatus. Length 2 to 3 inches.
Habitat. — Rocky coasts. Sitka to Santa Barbara, Cal.
Habitat. — California.
The Murex (M. monoceras, Sby.) has fewer and larger lip teeth, more tuberculated revolving ribs, less frilling of the varices, lighter colour and a pink interior. Length, 11 inches.
Habitat.—Lower California.
The Festive Murex (M. festivus, Hds.) is a familiar shell to collectors in Southern California. I picked them alive from the muddy rocks exposed at low tide along the breakwater in San Pedro Bay. Dingy brownish white and coated with foreign matters they scarcely show the fine brown spiral stria' that cover the surface. The thick whorls bear three ridge-like, crested varices, which are bent backward. The small oval aperture is closed by a horny operculum. The canal forms a short tube that bends back at the tip. Length, 11 to 2 inches.
Habitat. — Southern California.
Sub-genus OCINEBRA, Leach Spire elevated; canal more or less closed; varices numerous, leaf-like, sometimes spinose.
35 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, 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, it tot inches.
Habitat. — Santa Catalina Island.
36The Murex Shells. Rock Shells The Mournful Murex (M. lugubris, Brod.) is dull purplish with six rusty brown varices spread out, sometimes forming flat, curved spines. These are usually broken off, except near the outer lip. The shoulder of the body whorl bears the largest spines. Length, i I inches.
Habitat. — Santa Catalina Island and Santa Barbara, Cal. Poulson's Murex (M. Poulsoni, Nutt.) has a solid, elongated shell, spindle-shaped, and grayish white, with fine revolving lines of brown. The oval aperture is pink or white. The canal is short and wide open. The varices form faint, irregular swellings. Length, i to 2 inches.
Habitat. — San Pedro to Lower California.
The Furrowed Murex (M. foveolatus, Hds.) is not familiar to collectors. It has seven rounded varices, furrowed by fine striae. It is a thick, clumsy shell, with a short, curved canal. The columellar lip is produced into a rim. Length, I inch.
Habitat. — Sandy bottom, Magdalena Bay, Lower Cal.
The Lurid Murex (M. luridus, Midd.) is pale, reddish yellow to chocolate-coloured, sculptured with fine sharp spiral lines and faint rounded varices, few in number. Specimens are generally worn. Length, I to 1 inch.
Habitat. — Sitka to Southern California.
The Sculptured Murex (M. interfossus, Cpr.) is more angled at the shoulders, and narrower. The surface is deeply cut into lattice work by the crossing of the varices and the spiral stria. Canal short, recurved. Colour, dingy gray. Length, I to inch.
Habitat. — Sitka to California.
Frick's Murex (M. Fricki, Crosse) has slight, thin, frilled varices, and is elongately fusiform, with seven whorls. The aper ture is small; the canal short and recurved. The outer lip spreads into an elegant wing-like frill. Pale, with three wide purplish zones. Length, inch.
Habitat. — California.
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