NATURAL HISTORY. 



465 



Family, Cyprseidee. (Gr. from Kvirpog, Cyprus.) 



ARICIA. 



Family, Buccinida?. (Lat. JBuccinum, a Trumpet.) 

 EUCCIXUM. 



MonGta (Lat. the stamp on money], the Money Coury. 



Undatum (Lat. wavy), the Whelk. 



Bengal is worth 3200 Cowries, the value of the rupee being 

 2s. od. of our money. 



The BUCCINIDA are so named from their fancied resem- 

 blance to a trumpet. The common Whelk is everywhere 

 abundant on our coasts, and is taken in such profusion that it 

 is largely exported for food, and may be seen on the street 

 stalls of the metropolis exposed for sale, like the oyster and 

 periwinkle. 



The proboscis of this creature is of a most singular structure, 

 and by means of the numerous teeth with which it is armed, 

 it is able rapidly to bore its way through shells, and then to 

 feed upon the unfortunate inmate. The hermit crab often 

 takes possession of the empty shells of the "Whelk. 



The famous Tyrian purple was obtained from one of the 

 Buccinidse, Purpura imbricata. 



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