2 34 American Seashells 



the last whorl. Outer lip turned in as the varix is formed. Color brighter. 

 Posterior canal longer. Common in the West Indies; intertidal. 



Cantharus cancellarins Conrad Cancellate Cantharus 



West coast of Florida to Texas and Yucatan. 



Similar to C. tinctiis, but with a lighter shell, higher spire, and with sharp, 

 spiral threads and narrow, axial ribs which cross to make a beaded and can- 

 cellate sculpturing. Posterior siphonal canal absent or weak. Varix very 

 weak. Moderately common in shallow water. 



Genus Macron H. and A. Adams 1853 

 Macroji lividus A. Adams Livid Macron 



Plate 24X 



Monterey, California, to Lower California. 



% to I inch in length, half as wide, strong, with 5 whorls which are 

 covered with a thick, felt-like, dark-brown periostracum. Shell yellowish 

 to bluish white. Outer lip sharp, strong, and near its base bearing a small, 

 spiral thread. Columella strongly concave and white. Upper end of aperture 

 narrow, with a small, short channel and with a white, tooth-like callus on 

 the parietal wall. Siphonal canal short and slightly twisted. Base of shell 

 with a half dozen incised spiral lines. Operculum chitinous, brown, thick, 

 oval and with the nucleus at one end. Very common under stones at low 

 tide. 



Family MELONGENIDAE 



Genus Melongena Schumacher 18 17 



{Gale odes) 



Melongena corona Gmelin Common Crown Conch 



Figure 52 



Florida, the Gulf States and A4exico. 



2 to 4 inches in length, very variable in size, color, shape and production 

 of spines. Dirty-cream with wide, spiral bands of brown, purplish brown 

 or dark bluish black. Pure white "albinos" are infrequent. Shoulder and 

 base of shell with i, 2, 3 or 4 rows of semi-tubular spines which may point 

 upward or horizontally. Numerous varieties have been named which do 

 not even warrant subspecific standing: minor Sowerby (dwarf); estepho- 

 menos Melville (dwarf and narrow); altispira Pilsbry and Vanatta (long and 

 narrow); bispinosa Philippi (2 rows of spines); insp'mata Richards spineless 

 shoulder); and jnartiniana Philippi. A very common species in Florida. 

 Used extensively in the shellcraft industry. 



