50 Shells as evidence of the Migrations. 
Lumholtz was unable to procure any shell that had 
actually been used at the feast, but he found one in the 
god-house of the Sun (Tayau’) in Téaka’ta, which, 
according to his informants, was smaller than those used. 
The species is Murex (Phyllonotus) radix Gmelin, from 
the South Pacific Ocean, west coast of America. In 
Huichol it is called Kura. Much difficulty was ex- 
‘perienced in buying the specimen; the man who had 
deposited it, and who was one of Lumholtz’ party, at first 
absolutely refused to part with it. Although left some 
years ago, it still remained to him a valuable prayer for 
life. Through the acquirement of this specimen, which 
was the only one seen in the god-houses, Lumholtz 
learned of the interesting custom of blowing into shells 
just related. The natural markings on this shell sym- 
bolize to the Huichols grains of corn and water. 
Probably the most remarkable occurrence of the use 
of shell-trumpets in the New World is afforded by 
Mexico. Von MarterfS* refers to the finding, by Seler, of 
prehistoric trumpets made from /asciolaria gigas® and 
Turbinella scolymus from the Caribbean Sea, and Fascio- 
farta princeps from the Pacific Ocean, in several parts of 
Mexico, 
From ancient Mexican manuscripts we learn that 
conch-shell trumpets entered largely into the religious 
ceremonial of the Aztecs. 
In Seler’s description of Codex Vaticanus, No. 3,773, 
reference is made to the blowing of shell-horns in the 
temples at midnight, as a signal for the priests to’ arise 
and mortify themselves, to sing, and then go in procession 
to the bath.” 
** Von Martens, of. ctt., p. 485. 
** Probably /. gigantea is meant here. 
** Edward Seler, ‘‘ Codex Vaticanus, No. 3,773 (Codex Vaticanus B), 
an old Mexican pictorial manuscript in the Vatican Library,” Berlin and 
London, 1902-3, English translation by A. H. Keane, 
