UNIVALVES—CYPREA. 93 
CYPRAA.— Cowry. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXI. 
Diy. I. —Fig. 2. C. exanthema. Duy. III.—Fig. 4. C. ziezac. 
Fig. 3. Do. inayoung state. Div. [1V.—Fig. 5. C. cribraria. 
Diy. I].—Fig. 1. C. pantherina. Drv. VI.—Fam. 1. Fig. 6. C. nucleus. 
Shell univalve, involute, subovate, smooth, obtuse at each end ; aper- 
ture effuse at each end, linear, extending the whole length of the 
shell, and toothed on each side. 
THIS genus possesses one grand mark of distinction, 
the shells having, when arrived at maturity, the two 
ie) 
lips always crenated with strong articulated teeth. The 
species differ little in formation, but their colorings 
and markings are very dissimilar. 
There are six divisions in the Cyprzea: the first in- 
cludes those in which the spire is not quite concealed, 
as in the C, exanthema, C. arabica, &c. Those, on the 
contrary, which have no manifest spire, as the C. caput- 
serpentis, C. mauritiana, &c. form the second division. 
The third is composed of the umbilicated or perforated 
varieties; such as the C. ziczac, C.asellus, &c. Those 
species which are marginated, as the C. moneta, C. an- 
nulus, &c. form the fourth class. The shells of the fifth 
division have their surfaces covered with ribs, wrinkles, 
or tuberculations; andthe sixth consists of those which 
are beaked at the extremities. 
The Cowries are in general smooth, glossy shells, of 
great brilliancy of color, and elegantly marked with dots, 
ziczac lines, undulations, stripes, &c. The C.aurantium, 
