280 



GASTEROPODA. 



the ornaments of our cliimneypieces, and the gems 

 of our cabinets, are of very pecub'ar structure. In 

 the earlier period of their lirowtli they much re- 



FiG. 217. — TIGER owrrr (Ci.'pma fifiri^), harp (ITarpa ventricosa), axd 

 CLOTH-uF-tiOLu coxE {^Conus ttxtiUn). 



semble the Cones mentioned above ; but wlien they 

 have arrived at a certain size, the mantle of the 

 contained Mollusk spreads over the entire external 

 surface and covers it with a porcellanous coat quite 



Fig. 218.— young cowrie. 



-MONEY COWIUE, ADULT. 



different in colour from the original shell, and this, 

 joined to the changed appearance of the opening, 

 mio^ht cause the adult to be mistaken for a different 

 species. 



