10 TRITON. 



margin, each denticle terminating a double revolving band of red- 

 brown, or chocolate color. Length, IG inches. 



Me of Bourbon, Pliilippines, New Zealand, Polynesian 

 Islands. Japan, Indian Ocean. 



Yar. NOBILTS, Conrad. PI. 4, figs. 21, 20. 



Usually heavier and shorter than the t3'pical form, the wiiorls 

 with a distinct shoulder ; color within the aperture lighter. 



Sirily, So. Coast of Spain, Portugal, Cape Verd Isles, West Indies, 



Conrad considers this a distinct species, and Aradas and Benoit 

 have also described it, from the Mediterranean under the name of 

 T. Segiienzse (pi. 4, fig. 2(>) ; but the numerous specimens before 

 me enable me to satisfactorily connect the two forms. The hump 

 appears to become gradually more prominent with age, as in half 

 grown specimens it is not apparent either in Mediterranean or 

 West Indian specimens. 

 T. NODIFERUS, Lam. PI. 1, figs. 2, 3 ; pi. 3, fig, 17 ; pi. 4, fig, 23. 



Wliite, clouded and painted with reddish l)rown ; aperture 

 wliite within ; lip margin painted with brown ; columella with 

 white plaits, of which the posterior one is very prominent. 



Length, 5 to 10 inches, 



Mediterranean, Atlantic Coast of Europe, British Channel, Can- 

 aries, Natal, Mauritius, Japan, Australia, New Zealand. 



T, Sauliae, Reeve (pi. 3, fig, IT), and T. australis, Lam. (pi. 4, 

 fig. 23 ), are generally considered at least varieties of this species, 

 but I am imable to give them any permanent ditt'erential char- 

 acters. The species varies in much the same manner as T. 

 Tritonis in the smoothness or nodulation of surface, length of 

 spire, etc. It is found fossil, commencing with the miocene, at 

 several localities in southern Europe. The most northern 

 European locality is the island of Guernsey, where three living 

 specimens were traAvled at different times between 1825 and 1832. 

 Madame Power found this animal capalile of reproducing ampu- 

 tated tentacles, etc. The Sicilians and Algerians eat the mollusk 

 and esteem it a delicacy. At Nice, the fishermen and country 

 people make a hole in the apex of the spire and use the shell as 

 a trumpet which, Y^rany remarks, produces a braying sound. It 

 is an indispensable instrument in the old-fashioned charivari, 

 which he describes as a deafening serenade to signalize the mar- 

 riages of ill-assorted or unpopular couples. 



