This is a shell far more remarkable for the singularity of its growth, than for any elegance or beauty of its colouring. The peculiarity of its character consists in the large, erect, and longitudinal foliations, which are disposed in three distinct, and nearly equi-distant series throughout the whole length of the shell: for they appear in continuity upon every whorl, from the base to the apex. It is from this peculiarity that the species has obtained the very appropriate appellation of foliatus, or Foliated Rock Shell. In point of colour, as before observed, the Murex foliatus is not particularly conspicuous, and they are of a texture so delicate that it almost constantly occurs in a bleached or depauperated state; it is also a very fragile shell, and from this cause very liable to be broken. When in fine condition, as in the example selected, for the representation now before us, the general hue is a lacteal white; the body of the shell, externally, a deep tawny, with the foliations whitish, and the opening, or mouth of the shell, very delicately tinted with a violaceous hue. Sometimes the foliations have the appearance of fine white porcelain. This is esteemed a scarce shell, and very rarely occurs perfect, or in a living state. Found on the sea coast of North America. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration: _16_ _London. Published as the Act directs by E. Donovan & Mess.^{rs} Simpkin, & Marshall, Sept. 1, 1822._ ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONCHOLOGY. PLATE XVI. MUREX SCORPIO var MINOR LEAST STAG’S HORN MUREX. UNIVALVE. GENERIC CHARACTER. Shell spiral, rough with membranaceous sutures: aperture oval, ending in an entire straight, or slightly ascending canal. * _Sutures expanding into crisped foliations: beak abbreviated._ PURPURA _Gmel._ SPECIFIC CHARACTER AND SYNONYMS. Shell with four rows of foliations: spire capitate: beak truncated. MUREX SCORPIO: testa quadrifariam frondosa: spira capitata, cauda truncata. _Mus. Lud. Ulr. 628. n. 296._—_Gmel. Linn. Syst. T. 1. p. 6. 3529. 14._—_Rumpf. Mus. t. 26. f. D._—_Seba. Mus. 3. tab. 77. fig. 13. 16._ Cochlis volutata muricata parva sex duplici laciniarum serie horrida, spiris quatuor capitatis faucibus, quasi Scorpionum forficulis armatis. _Purpura_ quæ SCORPIO Auctorum. _Chemn._ * * * * *