CYPR.f:A. 95 



tentacula of a conic form, and finely pointed ; 

 the foot discous, and sometimes tongue-shaped. 

 The mantle is two-lobed, with wing-like margins, 

 capable of being turned back over the shell : this 

 mantle preserves the shell from injury when the 

 animal issues forth in search of food. The genus 

 abounds both in the old and new world ; but the 

 larger kind chiefly in warm climates. They live 

 on the coast, and are generally found under 

 stones or rolled coral. A very few species are 

 natives of the European seas. 



" The tiger-cowTy is before you ; a large and 

 very common species in collections ; it also fre- 

 qently adorns the mantel-piece. There is a re- 

 markable line extending along the back of the 

 shell ; at this part the edges of the mantle^ that 

 1 have before noticed, meet : this line is con- 

 spicuous in many species. 



" C. aurora is a costly shell from Otaheite 

 and New Zealand ; the colour orange, with the 

 base and extremities white. It is large, and has 

 been sold for 60/. when a specimen has been ob- 

 tained without any perforation. The shell is 

 worn by the New Zealand chiefs as a badge of 

 honour. 



"• C. eocanthema changes its appearance greatly 

 as it advances in growth. While young, three 

 bands extend over the back, which in its adult 

 state disappear, and the fawn-coloured ground is 



