I see that my e-mail from my new server is coming through with just my first name as the sender. Sorry about that, I'll try to remedy it tonight. But I might as well take this opportunity to announce that I am phasing out [log in to unmask], and my new e-mail (at home) is [log in to unmask] My e-mail at work remains unchanged. Now let's see if I can further muddy the waters surrounding Chicoreus axicornis, by pointing out another problem in one of our most popular books (this one, like the previous one, brought to my attention by Lori Schroeder). The target publication this time is Springsteen & Leobrera's Shells of the Philippines. On plate 36 (page 133) there are two illustrations purporting to represent Chicoreus axicornis. The picture on the left (figure 5a) is described as the form kawamurai. Agreed! This is the smaller form with shorter, hook-tipped spines. And, like every specimen of C. axicornis I have ever seen, kawamurai or otherwise, it has two major lip spines (often with a smaller spinelet between), and two major, simple canal spines. The problem is figure 5b, which the authors describe as the "typical form" of C. axicornis. Huh?? The shell has four thick foliated spines on the lip, the posterior one larger than than the other three, plus three similar spines on the canal, which to my way of thinking is about as unaxicornislike as you can get. I think this shell looks more like C. banksii. In fact, note the similarity between figure 5b, and figure 8a which IS C. banksii. I don't think the book actually contains a picture of the real "typical" C. axicornis. Any opinions? Paul M.