world, although a few species are found in temperate and in arctic 

 climes. A related genus, Fasdolaria, or banded snails, is a familiar 

 object to those who visit Florida. The Fasdolaria distam attains 

 a length of three inches, and is very prettily banded with narrow 

 stripes. A near relative of this species is the giant banded shell, 

 Fasdolaria gigantea, the largest of all marine snails, growing to a length 

 of nearly two feet. This species is found on the southern coast of the 

 United States, and is particularly abundant about the coral reefs of the 

 Florida Keys. 



"Among the best known of the marine snails are the Tritons, 

 a family of mollusks living in the warm seas of the tropics. Their 

 shells are generally large and highly colored, and are variously orna- 

 mented with short spines and knobs. Many of the 

 species are covered with a hairy or bristly epidermis. 

 This genus is remarkable for including in its hun- 

 dred or more species almost the largest and smallest 

 of marine gastropods, ranging from one-fourth of an 

 inch to eighteen inches in length. The Tritonium tri- 

 tonis, or trumpet shell, which attains the largest 

 length, is one of the handsomest and most strik- 

 ing of shells. In the vicinity of the Loo Choo Islands 

 it is said to be used as a tea-kettle, the operculum 

 forming an excellent lid, the whole apparatus being 

 suspended over the fire by a wooden peg. The frog 

 shells, Gyrineum, are related to the Tritons, but the 

 animal is more active. Some of the shells have 

 long, sharp spines, while in others the whorls are 

 simply foliated. Both Tritonium and Gfyrineum have the shell marked 

 by distinct varices, like the genus Murex." 



Professor Parker then rose from his seat, and called our attention 



to a number of marine shells which he 

 had purchased to add to his collection in 

 the West. 



" I have now told you of a number 

 of the most interesting and best known 

 Dendronotus arborescens, a nudi- families of marine shells," he added, 



branch, or sea slug. Note the tree-like ., , , , -, , ,, 



aspect of the branchiae, or breathing but these include but a Very Small part 



of these animals which live in the sea. 



There are thousands of species of minute 

 mollusks which live among the marine vegetation and in the mud on 

 the bottom, and some are even parasitic or commensal on other animals, 



123 



Tritonium tritonis, 

 the trumpet shell. 

 (Tryon.) 



organs, which project from the back. 

 (Woodward. 



