194 American Seashells 



Adults 4 to 9 inches in length, massive. Three spiral rows of large blunt 

 spines; the topmost spine of the first row generally the largest. Color pale- 

 cream on the outer surface. Parietal shield and outer lip pale- to deep-salmon. 

 Teeth white, brown sometimes between them. Moderately common from 

 5 to 10 fathoms in the Bahamas. Very rare in Florida where it is replaced 

 by the Clench's Helmet, the subspecies spinella Clench. 



Cassis madagascariensis spinella Clench Clench's Helmet 



Off Beaufort, North Carolina (fossil?), and the Florida Keys. 



Similar to the typical madagascariensis, but with numerous small, evenly 

 sized spines, more noticeable on the top row. Frank Lyman has collected 

 this novel form or subspecies by the dozen in 20 feet of water off the Florida 

 Keys. It is not a rarity and has been in old collections for many years. We 

 have seen specimens labelled as coming from the Bimini Islands, Bahamas, 

 but the record needs confirmation. 



Genus Cypraecassis Stutchbury 1837 

 Cypraecassis testiculus Linne Reticulated Cowrie-helmet 



Plate 9c 



Southeast Florida, Bermuda and the West Indies. 



I to 3 inches in length. Body whorl closely sculptured by small, distinct, 

 longitudinal ridges which are crossed by a dozen or so spiral grooves, thus 

 producing a reticulated surface. The shoulder of the body whorl in a very 

 few specimens may have pinched-up, low tubercles or ribs. It is only a 

 form. Entire animal light brownish orange, with underside of foot smeared 

 with darker shades of orange. No periostracum. No operculum. Eggs laid 

 under small rocks in greenish-brown clusters of 100 or so, teardrop-shaped, 

 translucent capsules. Reef inhabitant, below low-water level. 



Family CYMATIIDAE 



Genus Argobiiccinwn Bruguiere 1792 



Subgenus Fusitriton Cossmann 1903 



Argobuccinu?/! oregoveiisc Redfield Oregon Triton 



Plate 24g 



Bering Sea to San Diego, California. 



4 to 5 inches in length, about 6 whorls. Characterized by its fusiform 

 shape, convex whorls, which each bear 16 to 18 axial ribs nodulated by the 

 crossing of smaller spiral pairs of threads. The epidermis is heavy, spiculose, 

 bristle-like and gray-brown. Aperture and siphonal canal interiors are 



