192 ANIMALS OF THE SEASHORE 



dredged from deep water; the shells are common 

 on most beaches. The conch has a proboscis like 

 an elephant's trunk, which it holds before it as it 

 crawls about looking for food. 



The Knobbed Conch is the largest of the Conchs 

 off the coast of New Jersey and adjacent states and 

 may reach 9 inches in length. It may easily be 

 identified by the wart-like knobs near the top of 

 the shell. 



This conch as well as the two following species, 

 is edible, but it is not extensively used along this 

 coast. 



The egg cases of this species are often found 

 upon the beach (Figure 32). If one of the pockets 

 of a mature case is opened, one will discover scores 

 of minute "baby conch shells. ' ' 



Known from Cape Cod to Florida. 



Fulgur canaliculata Linne (Channeled Conch) 



(Busy con canalicidatum Linne.) 



PLATE XIX., Fig. 1 



This specie , . , lightly smaller than the above 

 conch; instead of having knobs, the shoulder is 

 flattened and there are deeply channeled sutures. 

 Same distribution as the above. The egg case of 

 this species differs from the above in that the 

 margins of the capsules or pockets are thin and 

 wedge-shaped rather than square and angular. 



