PURPURIFERA. 91 



Mitre, encircled by a dark band, and the clear pale yellow 

 Mitra crocea, or Yellow Mitre, having an orange mouth, 

 as also the Mitra corallina, or Coral Mitre, a species, of 

 which some specimens resemble bright amber, and others 

 red coral. 



No particulars of interest are recorded with regard to 

 the remaining genera of this family. 



Family III. PuRPuraFERA. 



How beautiful, in all tlieir varied forms, 

 Are these choice sea-shells, — some of gaudy hue. 

 And some of quaint device ; and wondrous, too. 

 The ocean artists, that with matchless skill 

 Have thus devised them. 



Shell terminating at tiie base, either with a short slightly 

 ascending canal, or with a deep sinus ; but the only dis- 

 tinguishing character of the family is found in the basal 

 sinus, that posterior portion of the shell which is fitted to 

 the passage of the respiratory siphon, conveying water to 

 the branchial cavity. 



Poets have sung concerning the sea-green sisters, and 

 their curious webs, woven beneath deep waters in caves, 

 where grows the coral, and where their warbhng voices 



