Report on the zoological collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean ...

44 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA.growth more conspiciious. In M. acantliosteplies, at the base of thespines on the canal there is a small dark spot on one side, which isbest seen when the sliell is wetted.14. Murex macgillivrayi. (Plate V. fig. C.)Dohrn, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 203.Murex macgillivrayi (Miirch !), Sowerbt/, Thes. Conch, vol. iv. p. 3,fig. 162 (wrongly coloured).Hah. Lizard Island {Maegillivray). Port Curtis, Queensland,0-11 fms. ; Port Darwin, 8-12 fms. ; and Prince of "Wales Channel,Torres Straits, 7-9 fms. {Copj'^inger).The figure in Sowerby's Thesaurus ' ' gives no idea of the colourThe specimens described by Dohrn are overcleaned,of this species.and much of the painting is removed. These were in consequencecorrectly characterized as " white, with yellowish lirse.'' The shellscollected by Dr. Coppinger at Port Curtis are in fresh and perfectcondition, and show the true colouring of the species. It is a yellowishshell, exhibiting throe purplish-brown bands on the bodywhorl,of which the uppermost is the broadest, being situated aroundthe broadest part of the volution. The central one is the narrowestin the four specimens under examination, and placed midway betweenthe other two, the lowermost falling at the base of the convexity, or,in other words, immediately below the third spine on the varices.The spiral lirae are fine, reddish, in some examples more deeplycoloured than in others, and terninate at the margin of the labrumin red dots, which fall between the lobe-like prolongations. Otherlarger examples from Port Darwin have the three purplish-brownbands less pronounced and the general tint paler. All have thecanal blotched with brown in front belo.v the spine on the dextralmargin. One of these blotches, situated between the second and thirdspines, is constantly the longest. Within the aperture the externalbanding is seen, and the cavity of the last varix, when not filled withcallus, is almost black, forming a dark submarginal stripe. The canalis long and straight, tapering, and blotched with brown in two orthree places.The specimens from Torres Straits are paler than the Port-Curtisexamples, have but little trace of the bands, and have the uppermostspine longer, curved, and upturned.15. Murex axicornis.Lamarck ; Kicnei-'s Coq. Viv. pi. 42. fig. 2 ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. pi. 15.fig. 37, pi. 10. fig. 37, var. ; Kiister's Con.- Cab. pi. 21. fig. 3 ; Sowerhy,Thes. Conch, pi. 382. fig. 31.Hah. Moluccas ; Philippines {Reeve) ; Prince of Wales Channel,5-7 fms., and Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 4 fms. (Copj^inger);Palm Island, N.E. Australia (Brazier).