OLIVES. 149 
white, have resorted to this trick in their ex- 
tremely crude laboratories. 
Another interesting peculiarity has been 
discovered in the olives in common with some 
other animals having similar shells, that is, the 
ability the little creature has of dissolvmg 
away the earlier formed volutions of the shell, 
and so according to its needs enlarging its place 
of habitation. 
The islanders of the Indian Ocean fish the 
Olivide extensively, using a number of lines 
baited with pieces of fish. They allow these 
lines thus baited to sink to the sandy shallows, 
the habitat of the olives. Not a very long 
time is required for the little animals to dis- 
cover the feast thus spread for their use, and 
they gather upon the pieces of fish in great 
numbers, and are drawn up to be sold in the 
markets. 
The Olivella, or little olive, is distinguished 
from the typical olive by a smaller shell, more 
extended spire, and the presence of a thin and 
horny operculum. It is also said that the olive 
has eyes while the Olivella has none. 
The Indians of the Pacific coast attached a 
mercenary value to one variety of these small 
shells—O. biplicata—which they called “col- 
col,” 
