TURBINELLID&. 161 
Distr—4 sp. Indian Ocean, Coast of Brazil. 7. pyrum, 
Linn. (lii, 1). 
Thick, obconic, smooth, last whorl large; spire obtuse, apex 
papillary ; aperture oblong, narrow; canal long and straight ; 
columella with several strong, transverse plaits in the middle; 
outer lip thin, simple. Animal unknown. 
The shankh or chank ( Turbinella pyrum) is the sacred shell 
of the Hindoos, and the national emblem of the Kingdom of 
Travancore. The god Vishnu is represented as carrying a chank 
shell in one hand and a chakra in the other. 
The principal demand for these shells is for making bangles 
or armlets and anklets, and the manufacture is still almost 
confined to Dacca. The shell is cut or sliced into segments of 
circles, or narrow rings of various sizes, by a rude semicircular 
saw, the hands and toes being both actively employed in the 
operation. Some of these bangles, worn by the Hindoo women, 
are beautifully painted, gilded and ornamented with gems. 
The shell rings are coated inside with plaster to smooth the 
roughness. Filagree-bordered edges of plaster are also added, 
patterns and devices of red, blue and gold are figured on them, 
and they are further ornamented with silver or gold tinsel, 
spangles, small colored glass beads, etc. The larger bracelets, 
formed of many segments, are made to open to admit the hand, 
by two spiral pins, which unscrew and let out the piece. These 
bangles are not removed at death, and hence there is a continual 
demand for them, many wearing several, both on the legs 
and arms. 
The mammillary apex of the shell is made into a button or 
bead ; the latter are called krantahs, and necklaces of these are 
so commonly worn by the Sepoys in the British East India ser- 
vice as almost to be deemed a regular part of their uniform. 
CARICELLA, Conrad. Columella-folds decreasing in size from 
above, as in Mitra, base canaliculate and not emarginate. The 
small group of fossils referred to it may be said to resemble 
Turbinella in essential characters, the difference being that the 
folds are situated lower down on the pillar, and that the shell is 
thinner. J. pretenuis, Conrad (lii, 2). Eocene; Claiborne, 
Alabama. 
Vasu, Bolten. 
Syn.—Cynodonta, Schum. Scolymus, Swains. 
Distr.—7 sp. Zanzibar, Brazil, West Indies, Panama, Philip- 
pines, Indian Ocean, Mauritius, Polynesia. V. cornigerum, 
Lam. (lii, 3). 
Shell oval, oblong, solid, tubercular or spinose, with spinose 
fascioles below; spire short, apex not papillary; aperture 
oblong; canal short, somewhat recurved; columella with several 
transverse folds in the middle; outer lip thickened and sinuous. 
