from ALL PARTS of THE WORLD 



79 



1. Cypraea tigris, L. The Tiger Cowry. 

 All over the Pacific. A large fine shell 

 which varies greatly in spotted pattern 

 and also in color. There are forms with 

 a yellow, whitish and reddish back- 

 ground but usually rare. You will also 

 see in old collections specimens with 

 Lords Prayer on back or Souvenir of 

 some place. You will find specimens in 

 almost every store in the world where 

 shells are sold. Like all other Cypraea 

 some forms have no spots and these are 

 usually immature. 3 to 3V2" 50c 



2. Cypraea arabica reticulata. Mart. 

 The Reticulated Cowry. Fairly common 

 in Hawaii and Pacific generally. The 

 white markings of the back are typical, 

 the flaring base with black spots and 

 dark splash of color in middle of base. 

 There is a variety histrio that is some- 

 what similar but the base is more narrow 

 and pure white with no blotch. The spots 

 on top are more distinct. 2 to 2V2" 1.00 



3. Cypraea umbilicata. Sow. South 

 Australia and Tasmania. Usually 

 dredged in 10 fathoms or more. A fine 

 large shell of yellowish pattern, with 

 a slight hollow in umbilical region. Has 

 always been considered rather rare. 



3 to 3V2" 5.00 



4. Cypraea testudinaria, L. Madagas- 

 car, East Africa and other parts of Pa- 

 cific. I have had numerous specimens 

 from Japan area. Of a peculiar dark 

 pattern, covered with minute white 

 dots that look like dust. For this reason 

 the shell is never as brilliant as other 

 forms. No other Cypraea has a similar 

 appearance. 3 to 5" 2.00 



5. Cypraea arabica, L. Arabian Cowry. 

 Pacific. Base and sides are often bril- 

 liantly spotted and back is lined with 

 brown on bluish background. Very com- 

 mon. 2" 50c 



6. Cypraea mappa, L. Map Cowry. 

 Philippines and likely all over the Pa- 

 cific. It is a fairly common shell with 



a brilliant design on back, the cut 

 showing white patches where the two 

 edges of the mantle of the mollusk meet. 

 This type shell always has white base. 

 The above two varieties are rather scarce 

 also a variety that is richly adorned with 

 red. 2V2" 2.00 



7. Cypraea leucostoma. Gray. Persian 

 Gulf. Of a grayish color with faint 

 chestnut markings. The pattern of the 

 top differs from all other shells I have 

 seen. A fairly rare shell which brings a 

 good price. Rare. 



8. Cypraea caurica. Pacific. Back is 

 light brown, edge mottled, teeth ridged. 

 Very common. IVz" 25c 



9. Cypraea mauritiana, L. Mourning 

 Cowry. Mauritius and elsewhere. Of a 

 rich dark color, there is much variety of 

 pattern, some specimens being almost 

 black. The immature shell is likely to 

 be rich brown with no pattern whatever, 

 the teeth will also be immature and only 

 show slightly. 2 to 4" 1.00 



10. Cypraea talpa, L. Mole Cowry. 

 Philippines and elsewhere in both Pa- 

 cific and Indian Oceans. A brilliant 

 shell when first collected as are most all 

 of this genus and they fade if constantly 

 exposed to light. Of a rich varying shade 

 of brown with distinct bands. 2 to 3" 1.00 



11. Cypraea Isabella, L. Pacific generally. Of 

 a grayish color with reddish tips. There is a va- 

 riety controversa from New Caledonia and a va- 

 riety Limpida, Melv. from Hawaii. Also a variety 

 Mexicana, Stearns, from West Mexico. There is 

 little difference in the three mainly shades of 

 color, doubtless due to different temperatures of 

 water and feeding conditions. 1 to 2". 



12. Cypraea pantherina, Sol. The Panther 

 Cowry. Indian Ocean, Red Sea and elsewhere. A 

 very brilliant spotted shell of which the cut only 

 gives a faint idea. There is a variety albonitens, 

 Melv. from Persian Gulf that is of a reddish 

 color, a variety obtusa, Perry, from Mauritius 

 that is somewhat similar, a variety therica which 

 is illustrated on another plate and variety 

 Syringa, Melv. Red Sea that is almost all white. 

 A large series of this shell from many localities 

 is always desirable. 2 to 2 1 /i". 



