ROCK SHELLS. 27 



trunk, it drills a hole in the shell of the Oyster, or other 

 testacean, and sucks out the contents; empty shells, so drilled, 

 are frequently found on the shore, and often, when the dredge 

 is let dowTi into an oyster bed, it comes up time after time 

 filled with Whelks, of which such numbers are sometimes 

 taken, that they are sold to the farmers to be used as manure 

 for the soil. This mollusk is a favourite article of food with 

 the poorer classes of our land, but it is hard and indigestible. 

 The shell may frequently be found in large numbers among 

 the beach stones; it is strong and firm, from three to four 

 inches long, of a dirty yellowish white. There are two other 

 Whelks common upon our coasts — the Stone or Dog Whelk, 

 fB. lapillus,) from the Latin lapis — a stone, and B. reticulatum, 

 so called because the shell is reticulated, or marked with many 

 lines crossing each other, like net- work; it comes from the 

 Latin reticulum — a net; hence also we have reticule — a small 

 work bag, at one time very much carried by ladies. 



EOCK SHELLS, 



Are so called on account of their rough and wrinkled forms; 

 they are nearly allied to the Whelks, to which they bear a 

 close resemblance. Several species are found on our shores, 

 the most common being the Humble Murex, (if. desjjectus,) 

 from the Latin despecto — to despise; this is often used by the 

 fishermen for bait. Some of the foreign Rock Shells are very 

 curious and beautiful; three of them will be found on Plate 

 II. — Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The Common Thorny Woodcock, 

 {M. trihulm,) from the French for trouble, whence we have 

 also tribulation, which is sometimes said to be a thorny path. 

 This curious shell is also called Yenus' Comb. It is found 

 in the Indian Ocean, from whence it is also brought. Fig. 2, 

 the Woodcock's Head, {M. haustellum,) from the Latin haustus 

 — a draught; the bill of the Woodcock being adapted for suck- 

 ing. This term is also applied to insects that live by suction. 

 The shell, it will be seen, is destitute of spines, but it is 

 ribbed and beautifully marked. Fig. 3 is worthy of its name 



