THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 193 



in great numbers. It has also been found as far north 

 as Monterey. When taken alive it is one of our most 

 beautiful shells. Dead specimens, which have been 

 knocked about and defaced, are far less bright and 

 glossy. 



The little Coffee-bean shell, l^rivia 

 calif ornica^ Gray, two views of which are 

 shown in Figure 185, is eagerly sought by 

 many children, who search in the sands ^'s- ^^s 

 for pretty treasures. Like the real coffee- 

 bean, one side is flat, while the other is rounded and 

 plump. The surface is marked with a dozen sharp 

 ribs, and the long, narrow aperture is set with many 

 small teeth. The general color of the shell is reddish 

 chocolate, though the interior is white. 



"trivia solandri^ Gray, Solander's Trivia, is a 

 Mexican species, but it reaches as far northward as 

 Santa Barbara. It resembles the last shell, but is 

 twice as large, and is marked by a deep, longitudinal 

 canal on the back of the shell. 



trivia ritteri^ Raymond, Ritter's Trivia, has been 

 dredged at various points along the coast of Califor- 

 nia, chiefly in the vicinity of Catalina Island. The 

 shell is small, white, well rounded, and is marked 

 with about 20 sharp, narrow ridges. Its length is 

 about ten millimeters. 



Somewhat like a very long and narrow 

 cowry is our next species, named Ovida de- 

 flexa^ Sby., var. barbarensis^ Dall, the Pink 

 Egg-shell, shown in Figure 186. In appear- 

 ance it is unique, looking more like a roll of 

 Fig. 186 shell than a spiral whorl, and tapering almost 



