Zoological Illustrations Series II/Plate 67



The inhabitants of the Murices, or Rock Shells, are rapacious; and feed, for the most part, upon animal matter, either living or dead. By the latter instinct they are led to frequent harbours and sea-ports, for the sake of offal, and other animal refuse, thrown from vessels, which they greedily devour. Lamarck, with his usual precision, has characterized many species; but for the very beautiful one now, we believe, for the first time described, we have to thank Messrs. Stuchbury, who favoured us with the inspection of a fine series of specimens, received from the Island of Margarita, Lat. 11. 20. N. Lon. 63. 20. W.

The genera Buccinum and Murex of Linné, appear typical of the carnivorous order Zoophaga, whose shells are either notched or channelled at their base. These arrange themselves under two great divisions. In one the animal has an operculum or lid, which closes the entrance of his shell; in the other, the shell itself is more or less enveloped by two large lobes, called the mantle, with which the animal covers his habitation. Nevertheless, these two divisions, as M. Cuvier has fully shown, become insensibly united, and form one natural group. The two principal divisions of the operculated race are represented by Cassis and Murex; the genera of the first have been pretty correctly made out; but those of the Muricinæ require much reformation; so far as regards the definition of their typical forms, and their apparent series of affinities.