312 INTRODUCTION TO CONCHOLOGY. 



a CUama that lias developed his luxuriant foliations in calm 

 and silent waters^ unaffected by exposure to light_, and sur- 

 rounded with nutritious food, adapted for the secretion of 

 embellishment and colour, and one which, having to con- 

 tend with the buffeting of the waves, has become stunted 

 and misshapen. It is also worthy of remark, that while 

 some species cluster together like bees, others adhere by the 

 anterior side only of the under valve, and assume the form 

 of a triangular cornucopia. Yet, notwithstanding these 

 irregularities, CJiama constitutes a very natural and exten- 

 sive genus, distinguished by colouring and externa] sculp- 

 ture, in the form of spines, scales, and lamellse, that are 

 scarcely inferior in beauty and variety to the Sioo^idyli. 



Chama, like all species of vivid colouring and luxuriant 

 growth, chiefly inhabit the tropical seas. They abound prin- 

 cipally on the coast of Central America, Peru, Mexico, Hon- 

 duras, and the West Indies ; some are found among the 

 Pacific Islands, others in Australia, China, and the Philip- 

 pines ; and their northern Limit is in the Mediterranean. 



The Prondose Chama {Chama frondosa) dredged up 

 from a rock of coral, at the depth of seventeen fathoms, 

 off the island of La Plata, West Columbia, is pre-eminent in 

 beauty, both as regards the bold and elegant structure of 



