CHAMA. 313 



the frondose lamiiife, towering one above the other, and the 

 vivid colouring and blending of his beauteous tints. 



It seems, while looking at the Violet-mouthed CJiama 

 (C. iostoma), as if fairy fingers had been dihgently employed 

 in moulding his concentric laminse, and embellishing the 

 interior with a rich purple colouring. ISTor less beautiful is 

 the Foliaceous {C.foliacea), in which the white radiating 

 row of scales is prominent on a dark red ground. But 

 one of the most delicate and beautiful species, in this elabo- 

 rate genus, is the Sinuose Cliama [C. siniiosa) : the shell is 

 pure white, whilst the laminse of vaulted scales are coloured 

 round the base in a very peculiar manner with rose-purple. 

 We may also briefly notice that the name of the Mean 

 Chama {C. sordida) is rendered inapplicable by a specimen 

 having been discovered of a beautiful clear coral-red colour, 

 sculptared throughout with fine undulating raised striae, ra- 

 diating from the umboes. Lastly, that the magnificent C 

 Pacijica, or Pacific Chama, obtained at Lord Hood^s Island, 

 by diving for the large Aviculce, to which he attaches himself, 

 is very peculiar in his colouring. One might almost fancy, 

 that an artist had dashed a hasty wash of dark gamboge- 

 orange across the vivid purple-lake that forms the chief 

 colour, but without tinging the scales. 



