CYPRiEA 



Plate VL 



Species 17. (Mus. Cuming.) 



CYPR-EA JiELANOSTOMA. Cypr. testa ohlongo-ovata, ex- 

 tremitatibm prominentibus, utririquesubfoveolatis; dorso 

 cceruleo-aut cinereo-fasniato, Jloccis niveis elevatiuseulk 

 adsperso, exlremitatihus badque lacteis, dentmti colu- 

 mellarium interstitiis purpureo-nigricantibus. 



The black-mouth Cowry. Shell oblong-ovate, extremi- 

 ties prominent, indented on Ijoth sides ; back blueish 

 or ashy brown, very faintly banded, sprinkled with 

 slightly elevated snow-like flakes, base and extremi- 

 ties milk-white, interstices of the columellar teeth 

 p\rrple-black. 



Leathes, MSS. Sowerby, TankervUle Cat. App. p. xxxi. 

 and Zool. Journal, vol. 2. p. 495. pi. 18. f. 3. and 4. 

 Ci/praacameleopardalis, Gray; (Perry haudrecognitus). 



Hob. Red Sea. 



It is not easy to conceive any two shells with such an 

 apparent resemblance as the Ci/prats melniiostoma, and 

 ttitellus, capable of differing more essentially on examina- 

 tion. In the former, the extremities are prominently 

 up-turned, the white flakes are of a blueish enamel-like 

 tinge and slightly raised, the interstices between the colu- 

 mellar teeth stained with purple-black, and there is no in- 

 dication of those peculiar lateral sand-lines which consti- 

 tute so striking a peculiarity in the latter. The younger 

 shell of the C melanodoma differs from the adult in being 

 mispotted, in the base and extremities not being thickened, 

 and in the absence of the pm-ple-black colom'ing of the 

 columellar gi'ooves. 



Since Mr. Sowerby described this species in the Tan- 

 kerville Catalogue, under Mi*. Leathes' manuscript name of 

 Cyprxa melanostoma, it has been published by one or two 

 authors under that of Cgprma cameleopardalis, fi'om its 

 having been thus originally named by one Mr. Perry ; the 

 writings of this person have, however, been censured a 

 mass of buffoonery wholly unworthy of credit. So much 

 has been already said on this subject by Mr. Sowerby, 

 (Zoological Joiu-nal vol. iv. p. 318.) that it only remains to 

 state how fidly I concui' in the opinion there recorded. If 

 every charlatan who sets himself up for a naturabst, with 

 brush in one hand, and writing-tool in the other, is to be 

 regarded as an authority on scientific matters ; all the zoo- 

 logical sign-boards in the kingdom might be quoted as 

 figm'es of reference. For my own part, I consider that the 

 " Cameleopard of Perry" should no more enter the nomen- 

 clature of zoology, than the " Red Lion of Brentford." 



Species 18. (Mus. Saul.) 



CypRvEa mappa. Cypr. testa, oblongo-ovata, crassd, extre- 

 mitatibus subobtusis, declivibus, deidibus numerosls, 

 colmnellaribus hie illic bifurcatis, dorso pallide violaceo- 

 fiiscescente, Imeis rubido-fu.scis Ideroglyphicis longitu- 



Novembcr 1845 



dhmlihm confertk consummate picto ; Idatu dorsall an- 

 gusto, pecnliarlter ramoso, lateribus violaceo-fusco gut- 

 tatis, basi violascente, 'macula grandi violaceo-fuscd 

 sinistrorsiim ornatd ; denVibus vividi crocato-rubris. 



The map Cowry. Shell oblong-ovate, thick, extremities 

 rather obtuse, inclined downwards, teeth numerous, 

 the columellar teeth here and there bifurcated, back 

 violet brown, elaborately painted with, close-set red- 

 dish brown lines of hierogl\'])hical character ; dorsal 

 opening narrow, peculiarly branched, sides dotted mth 

 violet brown, base tinged with violet, ornamented 

 with a large violet brown blotch on the left side ; 

 teeth bright saffron-red. 



Variety ^. 



Testa brevior, gibbosimcula, extremitatibus basique sangui- 

 neo-tiuctts, basi immaculaid, dentibus pallide incarnutis. 



Shell shorter, more gibbous, extremities and base blood- 

 red tinged, base unspotted, teeth pale flesh-colour. 

 Testa junior. 



Testa junior violaceo-fuscescens, pallide nebulata, lineis fulvo- 



fiiscescentibus Ideroglyphicis ad latiis sinistrorsum picta. 



Younger shell clouded or mottled with pale violet brown, 



and painted on the left side with fidvous-brown hie- 



roglyhical lines. 

 LINN.EUS, Syst. Nat. (12th edit.) p. 1173. 

 Sai. Island of Annaa, Pacific Ocean (found on the reefs) ; 



Cuming. 



There is a peculiarity in the progressive arrangement of 

 the colouring matter of this species which 1 believe has not 

 been hitherto noticed; namely, that there are two layers 

 of ornamental pattern, one over the other. 



The ornamental character with which the dorsal surface 

 of the Cowries is mostly painted, appears to be the last 

 effort in the formation of the shoU. The previous infu- 

 sions of colour rarely exhibit anything more than a dull 

 confusion of waves, clouds, or bands; no oniamental device 

 appears until the sheD is on the eve of matmity ; — the 

 beauty of the architecture is reseiTed for the final decora- 

 tion of the building. In the Cyprcea itwppa, we have an 

 exception to tliis order of arrangement ; a layer of pale 

 hieroglyphical painting, greatly resembling, except in co- 

 lour, thatof the Cyprcea Arabica, is deposited by the animal 

 on the left side chiefly, while yet in a very immatiu:e state 

 of growth, and on arriving at maturity, another and richer 

 layer is superimposed upon the former, which in most 

 specimens may be faintly seen beneath it. 



The two varieties of this species above noted are very 

 distinct, especially in regard to colour ; one has a -(aolet 

 base, bright saffron-red teeth, and a large dark blotch 

 upon the left base ; the other is of a warm hue with blood- 

 red tinged base and extremities, no spot, and teeth of 



