We cannot but feel surprise and regret, that the "very interesting account" of this bird, long ago announced (_Zool. Journ. Dec. 1827. p. 439_), as having been sent from Cuba, by Mr. Macleay, to the Linnean Society, should still be unknown to the scientific world. There is, indeed, a valuable paper by this gentleman on certain birds of Cuba, in the first part of the sixteenth Vol. of the Society's Transactions, where its author alludes to the "description and anatomy of two birds" (_p. 12_) both of which are nevertheless omitted: The _Todus viridis_, we apprehend is truly "one of those solitary species," which, as Mr. Macleay observes, "from having been neglected, may serve to unfold an exception, _sufficient to destroy the most plausible system_." For ourselves, we shall feel much surprised if this bird is entitled, in the slightest degree, to a station among the _Fissirostres_, in which order it has been placed by M. Vigors, in his paper "On the Natural affinities of Birds." * * * * * * [Illustration: MURICINÆ Pl. 1. _Murex imperialis._] MUREX Imperialis. _Imperial Murex._ ---- Family, Buccinidæ. Sub-family Muricinæ. _Nob._ GENERIC CHARACTER. See Lam. Syst. Types of form. 1. M. Regius. 2. palmarosæ. 3. tripterus. 4. tenuispinosus. 5. radix? _Lam._ ---- SPECIFIC CHARACTER. Type 1. _Shell ponderous, with from four to five varices between the two lips; the varices simple, nodulous, and obtuse: intermediate, or false varices, none; aperture yellow, orange, or red; inner lip striated only at the base._ ---- 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.