178 PECTINIBRANCHIATA.—MURICIDZ. 
following account of the number of shells used in 
France in the preceding year :— 
80,000 Bull’s-mouth, valued at . . . . £6,400 
8,000 Black Helmet . J) i. (A ie ae 
500 Horned Helmet _,, oe ipa ad ee Ve 60 
12,000 Queen Conch 2 Sarat te 5 700 
100,500 shells. Total Value . . . £8,960 
The average value of the large cameos made in 
Paris is about six francs each, giving a sterling 
value of £32,000, and the value of the small 
cameos is about £8 ,000, giving a total value of the 
cameos produced in Paris for one year of £40,000, 
while in England, not more than six persons are 
employed in this trade.* 
Those glories of a conchological cabinet, the 
Harp-shells (Harpa), are also members of the 
present family. The number of species is but 
small, and they are all found in the Indian Seas, 
especially around the Mauritius and neighbouring 
islands, whence the finest specimens of the com- 
mon species, as well as of the more valuable 
Many-ribbed Harp, are procured for the European 
collectors. The animal is brightly coloured, and 
beautiful. The fishing for these shells is carried 
on at low water, with a small rake, to which a net 
is attached, on sand-banks, at night and at sunrise, 
when the Harps principally roam about to feed. 
They have been known to take the bait on the 
fishing-lines laid for Olive-shells. 
“The shells when in fine condition are great 
favourites with collectors, and indeed a drawer of 
fine Harps, in all the freshness of their beauty, 1s 
* Atheneum, May 1, 1847. 
