Front matter (continued 2)

Columbella, Voluta.

Mitra,

Cymba,

Melo,

Voluta,

Marginella,

Volvaria,

"The shells of Columbella are of small size; two species are very common in collections. C. mercatoria is a little shell striated transversely; the outer lip is thickened in the middle, and toothed; the columella is plaited: the animal is furnished with an operculum.

"Columbella nitida is another pretty species, smooth and shining: you may perceive the generic marks if you look closely—two small folds on the pillar-lip, and the swelling, toothed, outer margin. They are all West Indian marine shells.

MITRA. CYMBA. MELO.

"Mitra is a large genus, and it is believed that there are three times as many species yet undescribed. The mitres are natives of warm climates, and few are common. The pillar-lip of Mitra is parallel, with transverse folds; the base has a slope, but no canal; the margin of the columella is thin and rolled back. M. episcopalis, the bishop, is white with red spots; the columella-folds are four. (Plate 9.) M. papalis, the pope's-mitre, has five; the upper whorls are broken into a kind of crown.

"In Cymba, the gondola, the spire ends in a tubercle, and scarcely appears; the aperture is wide: they are very pretty shells.

"Melo, the melon, from the Indian Ocean, is a very fine genus; here the spire is evident.

"Voluta musica will serve as an example of the genus. The animal is carnivorous.

"Marginella is an oblong, smooth, and polished shell; its peculiar character is the thickened outer lip; it is a neat, small species, prettily coloured.

"Volvaria is a cylindrical shell, convolute, the spire nearly hidden; the aperture straight, as long as the shell. There is a fossil species found in London clay. V. monilis is sometimes strung for necklaces. It comes from Senegal.

OVULA.

"The last family of the order Trachelipoda is Convoluta, which contains many very fine genera.

"They are the following:

Ovula Bulla.

Cypræa The same.

Terebellum Bulla.

Ancillaria.

Oliva Voluta.

Conus The same.

"The general characters of this family are the following:

"Shell without a canal, the base of the aperture sloping, or effuse, the spire compressed, the last volution almost covering the rest.

"Ovula, you will recollect, was formerly confounded with the Bulla genus: the form is egg-shaped, the outer lip toothed in one division, smooth in the other; the shells are white and polished, particularly O. oviformis, the poached-egg, from the Moluccas.

"O. volva, the weaver's-shuttle, is a rare and highly-valued species. It is nearly globular in the middle, and is terminated at each extremity by a long beak: it comes from the West Indies. O. gibbosa is a common species; the shape is oblong, with a ridge in the centre.

CYPRÆA. TRIVIA.

"You can be at no loss on seeing the shells of Cypræa, a large and beautiful genus, which remained unchanged for a long time. Lately, we find a few of the small species are become a new genus, Trivia.

"The character of the Cypræa is a longitudinal aperture, toothed, in the adult state, on each side. The spire is scarcely to be seen.

"While the shells are young they have the appearance of a Voluta or a cone; the aperture spreads more, and is without teeth.

"The individuals of each species pass through three different states:

"In the first, the form is very imperfect; it is like a thin cone, and shows no character of the genus; hence young students are perplexed if they chance to have a young cowry in their collection.

"In the second state, the shell is still thin, with a projecting spire; but attains its proper form.

"In the third, or adult state, the shell is thick, the colours are perfected, and the spire is very nearly concealed.

"When the animal becomes too large for its habitation, it has the power of leaving it, and forming a new one.[D]

CYPRÆA.

"The inhabitant of the Cypræa shells has two tentacula of a conic form, and finely pointed; the foot discous, and sometimes tongue-shaped. The mantle is two-lobed, with wing-like margins, capable of being turned back over the shell: this mantle preserves the shell from injury when the animal issues forth in search of food. The genus abounds both in the old and new world; but the larger kind chiefly in warm climates. They live on the coast, and are generally found under stones or rolled coral. A very few species are natives of the European seas.

"The tiger-cowry is before you; a large and very common species in collections; it also frequently adorns the mantel-piece. There is a remarkable line extending along the back of the shell; at this part the edges of the mantle, that I have before noticed, meet: this line is conspicuous in many species.

"C. aurora is a costly shell from Otaheite and New Zealand; the colour orange, with the base and extremities white. It is large, and has been sold for 60l. when a specimen has been obtained without any perforation. The shell is worn by the New Zealand chiefs as a badge of honour.

"C. exanthema changes its appearance greatly as it advances in growth. While young, three bands extend over the back, which in its adult state disappear, and the fawn-coloured ground is spotted over with numerous white circular marks.

CYPRÆA.

"C. mauritania, the moor, is a fine species, with very black sides, and tawny-yellow back with spots. It is a native of Java.

"C. caput-serpentis, the serpent's-head, has dark sides, with white fauces: the back is covered with net-work colouring: the fauces, you must remember, are the narrow entrances at each end of the shell.

"C. Isabella, the orange-tip, with pale flesh-colour back, and the fauces orange-colour.

"C. Arabica is a common species in collections.

"C. mappa is varied with deep brown or yellow lines and spots: the dorsal line is laciniated.

"C. talpa, the mole, has the back fawn-colour, with three zones of pale yellow; the base and sides sometimes nearly black. It comes from Madagascar.

"C. vitellus, the fallow-deer, is fawn-colour, covered with small white spots: from the Indian Ocean.

"The wasp, C. asellus, is white, with three brown bands.

"C. helvola, the star-cowry, has the sides dark orange; the fawn-coloured back studded with small spots. It comes from the Maldives.

"C. moneta, the money-cowry, is generally white, sometimes yellow.

TÆREBELLUM. OLIVA. TRIVIA.

"C. annulus, the ring-cowry, has a yellow mark round the top of the shell. The fowl-cowry, C. moneta, is used for money by the natives of Siam and Bengal.

"C. pediculus is changed to Trivia, a new sub-genus from Cypræa. We find the following characters:—form of the columella internally concave, ribbed; shell sub-globular, cross-ribbed. T. carnea, flesh-coloured shell; thin, pure rose-coloured, with very thin, distant ribs; lips whitish: it has sometimes an indistinct dorsal groove.

"Trivia Europæa (Cypræa of authors) is a globose shell, ash or flesh-coloured, with three black dots and a whitish dorsal streak; ribs close, rather thick, and whitish; base white; outer lip wide. The variety has the back without spots. T. pediculus has six square dorsal spots; the colour of the shell pale red; ribs rather thick-covered; dorsal line narrow; base reddish. Only one species, C. Europæa (or Trivia) is a native of our shores.

"There are several fossil species of Cypræa.

"We now pass on to a genus in which there is but one recent species, Terebellum subulatum, Bulla of Linnæus. (See Frontispiece.) A fossil Terebellum is found in London clay.

ANCILLA. CONUS.

"The Oliva genus contains smooth, shining shells, common, and therefore little valued; nevertheless they are beautiful, and of various colours.

"The columella is obliquely striated; the aperture longitudinal and straight. The olives were placed by Linnæus among the Volutæ, on account of the striæ on the columella, without regard to the peculiarity of the canal, by which the olives are known from all other shells. This canal separates the volutions of Oliva. Many species are prettily marked by nature, others are rendered handsome by polishing. O. subulata is small, and pointed like a mitre. The common olive is white, with brown, waved lines. O. irrisans is ornamented with yellow zigzag lines: it has two brown zones. O. oriza, the little rice-olive, is white.

"I should have noticed the small genus Ancilla, formerly Ancillaria, which is very near both to Terebellum and Oliva. The columella has a varix at the base, which distinguishes it from Terebellum, and it wants the canal which separates the volutions of Oliva.

"There are several fossil species.

"The concluding genus of the third order is very large, and contains rare and costly shells. This is Conus, scarcely to be mistaken for any other genus except Voluta, and that only at a first glance.

CONUS.

"The species are covered with an epidermis, sometimes very thick; the spire has various degrees of elevation, sometimes almost flat; the operculum very small and horny. They are natives of southern and tropical seas: the animal is carnivorous: found in sandy mud, at various depths of the ocean. The species are very numerous—Lamarck makes 181 recent. Some new species have lately been discovered. Many of the cones are very beautiful, both in shape and colour, and the genus has been always in estimation among collectors. The gloria-maris, cedonulli, ammiralis, and some others, have been sold at very high prices, and some of the finest of these are now in England.

"Lamarck makes two divisions: in the first is comprehended the species with coronated spires; the second those with simple spires; the latter division contains far the greater number.

"Fossil cones occur, in London clay and crag, in England.

"No recent species are found upon our own coasts.

"Conus Hebræus, the Hebrew-cone, is easily known: (Plate 6:) it has a white ground, and square black markings.

"Conus virgo is white, with a purple base.

CONUS.

"C. marmoreus is a fine shell. Numerous species are within reach of your purses, and I do not doubt that you will soon acquire a good collection at a moderate price. You, Charles, will find more pleasure in a cone than in a top; and Lucy, who never found much pleasure in toys except in taking them to pieces, has always a ready sixpence either for a poor neighbour in distress, or for some harmless pleasure.

"We have yet two more orders of Mollusca to notice, the Cephalopoda and the Heteropoda.

"At our next lesson I shall mention the genera that are most likely to come under your observation, either fossil or recent."

CHAPTER XII.

ARGONAUTA. NAUTILUS.

"So many families of the fourth order, Cephalopoda, are found only in a fossil state, and which you will not easily meet with, that I shall not consider it needful to give you the whole catalogue," observed Mr. Elliot to his young pupils at the beginning of the next lesson.

"But we are exceedingly interested about fossils," replied Charles; "pray do not pass any species that we may be likely to find."

"And I," said Lucy, "have much wished to ask whether the snake-stone ever was a shell? it is something like a Planorbis, but heavy and imperfect."

"I will answer your question presently," said her father. "Tell me what genera remain to be noticed among the univalves of Linnæus?"

"Argonauta and Nautilus," was the ready reply.

"The animals inhabiting these shells are Cephalopoda. The word indicates the position of the feet, or more properly arms of the animal, which are ranged round the head like a crown. The body is thick and fleshy, contained in a kind of bag, whence the head issues, surrounded by these arms, which vary in different genera.

CUTTLE-FISH. BELEMNITE. SPIRULA.

"The common cuttle-fish, a native of our seas, will give you an idea of a cephalopode.

"In the first family a fossil-shell occurs that is very frequently met with.

"Family, Orthocerata; genus, Belemnite, thunder-stone, or arrow-head. These fossil-shells occur abundantly in the chalk formations. Many superstitious notions have been attached to this extinct marine animal: of these you will find an account in the 'Penny Cyclopædia.'

"In the family Lituolita we meet with the delicate and remarkable little shell Spirula Peronii, distinct from Nautilus by the separation of the volutions: it is nearly covered by the body of the animal. The colour is white; the texture thin and brittle: it has a lateral syphon, the orifice of which is very clearly to be seen as each compartment is taken off. There is but one species; it is found in the Southern Ocean and the Moluccas. The shells are seen floating on the surface of the water when the animal is dead, and are sometimes carried to the shore. (Plate 9.)

AMMONITE. NAUTILUS.

"Another family of this order, Nautilacea, contains, among many other genera, the celebrated Nautilus. This genus, you are already informed, is distinguished from Argonauta by its shells being many-chambered. Two or three fossil species have been found in London clay.

"Among the various fossil-shells abounding in different strata, not known in a recent state, the one most remarkable and frequently occurring is the Ammonite, Cornu Ammònis, so called from the resemblance it bears to the convoluted horns of Jupiter Ammon, in mythological history. This is your snake-stone, Lucy, a local name, which you had better change for Ammonite. Various legends are connected with this fossil, of which you may obtain information by consulting the before-mentioned publication.

"As you are desirous of studying geology, a knowledge of the Ammonites is very requisite, since whole sections of the genus are characteristic of certain strata.

"They are nearly allied to the Nautilus. The species are very numerous; one hundred and twenty according to some authors—two hundred and seventy species are enumerated by others. They occur in Europe, Asia, and America: they have been found in the chalk with a diameter of three feet.

"In the second division of this order the genus Argonauta occurs: the shell has been already described, and retains its original name. (Plate 6.)

OCTOPUS. LOLIGO. SEPIA.

"In the third division is the family Sepiaria, containing Octopus, Lolìgo, and Sepia. This section contains animals without shells. Octopus vulgàris is common in the European seas. In hot climates it grows to a very large size. The animal has sufficient strength to draw a boat under water.

"Lolìgo also is found in our seas; the thin, transparent rib, called the dorsal blade, you may probably find on the shore, the flesh that covered the blade being cleared entirely from it. The colour is either white or brown. It is called sea-sleeve.

"The bone of the cuttle-fish, Sepia officinalis, is so frequently thrown on shore by the waves, that few persons visiting the sea-coast can be ignorant of its form. You have a large collection there I see, Lucy; and you are doubtless aware that this calcareous bone affords the pounce of the stationers, when finely pulverized: it also forms one ingredient of tooth-powder.

"The ink of this marine animal is contained in a bag: the use of the fluid is to colour the water around, in order to conceal itself from hostile attack. The flesh of some of these animals is used for food, and is frequently seen in the market at Naples. In the British isles it is not put to any culinary purpose. The ink of Sepia can be prepared for a pigment, or paint.

"The fifth and last order of the twelfth class is Heteropoda, which contains only a few genera, one of which I shall notice.

CARINARIA.

"Carinaria, the glass-nautilus, is a rare and very precious genus, containing but three species. The first, Carinaria ritrea, has been found in the Southern Ocean. There is a model of the shell in the British Museum; that of Paris possesses the shell itself.

"C. Mediterranea is found in the neighbourhood of Nice, and is frequent in the summer months. So thin and delicate is the shell that it is seldom found entire.

"The shell of Carinaria is wholly external, and is attached to the upper part of the body, apparently to protect the organs of respiration. The body is transparent, dotted with elevated points; on the lower part is a beautiful reticulated fin, of a reddish colour; with the end of this fin it floats along, carrying its delicate shell. The habit of the animal, which swims upon its back, reverses the natural position of the shell, which is on the upper part of the body when at rest."

"That is one of the most remarkable creatures you have yet mentioned," said Charles; "I may chance to meet with a specimen when I travel."

"Probably," replied Mr. Elliot; "but our lessons are now concluded—Carinaria is the last genus."

"How greatly we are obliged to you, father!" said Lucy: "but I hope you will still give us a little advice and assistance: we shall often be unable to determine the genera of some shells, I am sure, especially among the bivalves."

METHOD OF CLEANSING SHELLS.

"Most willingly: but tell me if you know the easiest method of cleaning shells when they become soiled, or when you purchase them in the natural state?"

"That is a question I wished to ask."

"A little warm water and soap will cleanse and render them bright. Some collectors rub Florence oil over their shells, which prevents them from becoming dry. A weak solution of gum-arabic is sometimes applied, in order to produce a polished and bright appearance.

"Nitric or muriatic acid, diluted, is used to take off the epidermis, or any extraneous matter; but it must be done carefully, and the shell plunged in water after the acid has been applied. But do not make a practice of polishing; shells are best in their natural state, generally speaking."

"Thank you, father!" said both the young people.

"You are welcome to any instruction I can give you," he replied; "and now farewell for to-night."

A LIST OF SPECIES

That may be purchased at a moderate Price.

Examples of the genera that may be easily obtained from the British Coast, or which are expensive, are omitted.

Dentalium entalis. Pectinaria Belgica.[E] Balanus tintinnabulum. Pentalasmis anatifera. Corbula nucleus. Psammobia virgata. Lucina carnaria. Cyprina Islandica. Cytherea chionè. Venus tigerina. Isocardia cor. Arca Noæ. Pectunculus marmoratus. Chama arcinella. Tridacna crocea. Pinna muricata. Perna ephippium. Meleagrina margaritacea. Lima squamosa. Spondylus gæderopus. Chiton squamosus. Emarginula fissura. Fissurella Græca. Pileopsis Hungarica. Calyptræa equestris. Bulla ampulla. Helix melanotragus. Pupa mummia. Bulimus ovatus. Achatina virginea. Neritina corona. Nerìta polìta. Natìca alba. Iànthina communis. Sigaretus haliotoideus. Pyramidèlla dolabrata. Scalària commùnis. Delphinula lacinìata. Solarium perspectivum. Trochus tuber. Monodonta labio. Turbo pica. Phasianella bulimoìdes. Cerithium vertagus. Pyrula ficus. Ranella crumèna. Murex haustèllum. Triton lotorium. Pterocera lambis. Strombus lineàtus. Cassis arèola. Ricinula horrida. Purpura patula. Monoceros imbricatum. Concholepas Peruvianus. Harpa ventricosa. Dolium maculàtum. Eburna spiràta. Terebra maculàta. Columbella mercatòria. Mitra episcopàlis. Voluta musica. Volraria monìlis. Ovula oviformis. Cypræa cribària. Terebellum subulàtum. Oliva utriculus. Conus virgo. Nautilus hians. Spirula Peronii.

INDEX.

Page. Acasta, 41 Acera, 64 Achatina, 69 Alata, 85 Ammonite, 103 Anatina, 47 Ancilla, 98 Ancylas, 64 Anodon, 54 Anomia, 29 Anostoma, 68 Annularia, 39 Aplysia, 65 Arca, 53 Argonauta, 29 Aspergillum, 45 Auricula, 69 Avicula, 57 Balanus, 40 Belemnite, 102 Bimusculosa, 44 Brachiopoda, 61 Buccinum, 32 Bulimus, 69 Bulla, 31 Calyptræa, 64 Cancellaria, 83 Capsa, 50 Caracolla, 68 Cardium, 23 Carinaria, 105 Cassis, 87 Cassidaria, 87 Cephalopoda, 101 Cerithium, 82 Chama, 26 Chamacea, 54 Chiton, 18 Cineras, 41 Cirrhipeda, 40 Clausilia, 69 Clavagella, 46 Cleodora, 62 Columbella, 91 Conchæ, 50 Conchifera, 44 Concholepas, 89 Conus, 30 Corbis, 50 Corbula, 48 Coronula, 40 Crassatella, 48 Crepidula, 64 Creusia, 41 Cyclas, 50 Cyclostoma, 69 Cymba, 92 Cypræa, 31 Cytherea, 52 Page. Delphinula, 77 Dentalium, 36 Diceras, 54 Dolabella, 65 Dolium, 89 Donax, 23 Eburna, 90 Erycina, 48 Etheria, 54 Fasciolaria, 83 Fissurella, 64 Fusus, 84 Galeolaria, 40 Gasteropoda, 62 Gryphæa, 59 Haliotis, 35-75 Harpa, 89 Helix, 35-68 Heteropoda, 105 Hipponyx, 61 Ianthina, 74 Isocardia, 52 Lepas, 18 Lima, 58 Limax, 66 Lingula, 61 Litorina, 79 Loligo, 104 Lucina, 50 Lutraria, 48 Lymnæa, 71 Mactra, 23 Mactracea, 47 Magillus, 40 Melanopsis, 71 Meleagrina, 58 Melo, 92 Mitra, 92 Modiola, 56 Mollusca, 62 Monoceros, 89 Monodonta, 78 Murex, 35 Mya, 21 Myaria, 47 Mytilus, 27 Mytilacea, 56 Natica, 74 Navicella, 73 Nassa, 88 Nautilus, 30-103 Nerita, 35 Neritina, 73 Nucula, 53 Nymphacea, 49 Page. Octopus, 104 Oliva, 98 Onchidium, 66 Orthocerata, 102 Ostrea, 26 Otion, 41 Ostracea, 59 Ovula, 93 Paludina, 72 Pandora, 48 Panopæa, 47 Parmacella, 66 Parmophorus, 64 Patella, 61-63 Pecten, 58 Pectunculus, 53 Perna, 57 Pentalasmis, 41 Phasianella, 79 Pileopsis, 64 Pinna, 57 Planorbis, 70 Placuna, 60 Plagiostoma, 58 Pleurotoma, 83 Plicatula, 59 Podopsis, 59 Pollicipes, 41 Potamophila, 51 Psammotæa, 49 Pterocera, 86 Pullastra, 51 Pupa, 69 Purpurifera, 87 Pyrgoma, 41 Pyrula, 84 Ranella, 84 Ricinula, 88 Rostellaria, 86 Rotella, 78 Rudista, 60 Sabella, 37 Scalaria, 76 Scapellum, 42 Serpula, 36 Sepia, 104 Siliquaria, 39 Sigaretus, 75 Solarium, 77 Solen, 22 Solenacea, 47 Spirorbis, 39 Spirula, 102 Spondylus, 25 Stomatia, 75 Stomatella, 75 Strombus, 33 Struthiolaria, 84 Succinea, 69 Page. Tellina, 22-30 Terebellum, 97 Teredo, 46 Terebra, 91 Testacellus, 67 Trachelipoda, 67 Tridacna, 56 Trigoniana, 53 Trivia, 97 Triton, 85 Trochus, 78 Tubicinella, 40 Turbinella, 83 Turbo, 79 Umbrella, 63 Unio, 54 Unimusculosa, 56 Valvata, 71 Venus, 24-52 Venericardia, 52 Venerupis, 49 Vermetus, 76 Volvaria, 92 Voluta, 31 Vulsella, 60 Xylophaga, 46

THE END.

Joseph Rickerby, Printer, Sherbourn Lane.

Transcriber Notes

All illustrations were moved so as to not split paragraphs. Words with accented vowels were not standardized. Cover image was produced from material made available from The Internet Archive and is placed in the Public Domain.