156 UTILIZATION OP MINUTE LIFE. 



sea-ports, where they are entitled " Animaux en 

 Coquilles a 1 fr. 25 c." 



The larger species of Cypraia were consecrated 

 by the Greeks at Cnidos, in the temple of Venus. 



FIG. 16. Ancient Egyptian Necklace of Love-shells (Cypraea), 

 ornamented with Gold. 



In certain parts of Africa the natives worship them 

 as idols, or, at least, used to do so a few years ago. 

 In more civilized countries, superstitious people 

 wore them as a talisman, to protect themselves from 

 certain maladies. 



Almost all the species of this genus inhabit the 

 warmer parts of the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the 

 Mediterranean. A very small species is found on 

 our coasts. 



The large spotted shells belonging to the Gaste- 

 ropod genus Conus, or Cone, on account of the 

 shape of these shells, and those of the genus Oliva, 

 are seen as ornaments on the chimney-piece. Their 

 price is somewhat high. 



The Mollusca belonging to the genera Cyprcea, 



