398 



MARINE INVERTEBRATES 



dinal streaks of olive. Encircling the shell are from four to seven black 

 lines. (Plate LXXVI.) 



These three species of Fasciolaria often occur associated upon sand- 

 banks which are exposed at unusually low tides. It requires some force 

 to dislodge the large F. gigantea from its bed of sand. When the apex 

 is discovered projecting an inch or less from the bottom, the collector 

 must scrape away the sand down to the body-whorl, and then secure a 

 good hold upon the spire and pull hard. The stupid animal will not at 

 once withdraw into his shell, but will hang protruded from the aperture 

 like a great piece of vividly red meat. To extract any of these larger 

 fasciolarias from its shell, it is necessary to boil it for ten or fifteen min- 

 utes. Large specimens of F. gigantea should remain in the pot half an 

 hour. The heavy corneous epidermis of F. gigantea will dry and crum- 

 ble away unless it is rubbed with vaseline about once a year. 



FAMILY VOLTTTID.E 

 GENUS Valuta 



The Volutidae, like the cowries, are " aris- 

 tocratic " shells. As was stated above, 

 there are many collectors who have be- 

 come so fascinated by the shells of a few 

 of these "first families of the Mollusca" that 

 they make great efforts and spend no small 

 sums in seeking to complete their cabinet 

 series of the rare and more beautiful forms. 

 The Volutidce certainly have very beauti- 

 ful shells, and they are for the most part 

 exceedingly rare. The reason of their 

 rarity has no doubt something to do with 

 their habits. They are probably largely 

 dwellers upon rocky ground, where the 

 dredge cannot reach them. There is but 

 one species of Valuta upon the American 

 coasts which is available to the shore-col- 

 lector, and this is the well-known and 

 much-sought-after V.jnnonia. The ani- 

 mal of Voluta has a very broad foot, and 

 a head curiously divided into two lobes, 



upon which are placed sessile eyes. A remarkable feature of the 



genus is the lack of an operculum. 



Valuta junonia. 



