GEOGRAPHY OF SHELLS. 31 



Cancellarm, Chitons, Fissiirellce, and many beautiful 

 genera are associated with the memory of the Incas in Peru ; 

 they also bring to mind the Gulf of Panama, where Pearl 

 fisheries abound; China, with its pagodas and Mandarins, 

 the classic shores of the Mediterranean, and the Eastern 

 Archipelago, for such are their favourite localities. 



The Gulf of Tarentum and the coast of Naples and Sar- 

 dinia afford varieties of porcelain shells, wdth Pectens of all 

 hues. The island of Sardinia is celebrated for a fine species 

 of white Oyster; and Corsica, Majorca, and Minorca, for 

 the Pinna marina, the Silk-worm of the ocean. Bright 

 yellow Ancillaria and orange-brown Wmrnm are found on 

 the shores of New Holland and Japan; and the solitary 

 Concholepas, resembhng a compressed cornucopia, has alone 

 been discovered at Peru. 



There is scarcely, on the contrary, any limit to the geo- 

 graphical distribution of the Neritince, save in the arctic 

 regions, and cold temperate zones. The genus is represented 

 by a humble but very delicately painted specimen, on the 

 shores of Britain ; and numerous varieties abound in the 

 West Indies, and throughout the great continent of America. 

 This extensive genus is equally diffused hi South Africa 



