NO. I (1917) 



EDIBLE MOLLUSCS 



31 



The Turban Shell (Turbo margaritaceus Linn.). 



Tamil — Nathai (/F^sem^), Pamban. 



This small species of Turbo, allied to the well-known mother-of- 

 pearl shell called " Green Snail " in trade, is found in abundance 

 on the surf-washed rocky shoals found here and there on the 

 coral reefs near Pamban. The island women collect the shells 



Fig. 15. — The Common Turban shell (T. margaritaceus) with outer 



AND INNER VIEWS OF THE OPERCULUM. x I. 



during spring tides when the shoals uncover for a short time ; they 

 employ all the available minutes in turning as many stones as 

 possible, this being the favourite habitat of Turbo. The flesh 

 is used in the same way as that of the cockle-clam. 



Besides the value of the flesh, Turbo is esteemed for its oper- 

 culum. This is a stout, disc-shaped stony body, flat on the inner 

 surface, strongly convex on the outer ; it serves as a defensive 

 stopper when the animal is attacked, the soft body being retracted 

 wholly within the snail-shaped shell and the aperture closed 

 by the hard body of the operculum. All sorts of shells and 

 marine objects are stocked in several booths within the main 

 entrance to the Rameswaram temple, for sale to the thousands of 

 pilgrims who travel thither from all parts of India, and among 

 these objects the opercula of Turbo find place. The best ones are 

 retailed at 8 annas per hundred, sea-worn ones collected on the 

 beach at considerably less. The island women (Valayans chiefly) 

 get about 8 annas per measure from the Rameswaram shopkeepers. 

 The Tamil name for them is ambiliman {'S^^iSisSiintT'ssi) signifying the 

 disk of the moon, 



