226 WEST COAST SHELLS 



Fig. 219 (*) 



thrown up by the waves, especially around sunken 

 ledges. It is said to be more abundant in the vicinity 

 of Vancouver Island, where the Indians formerly 

 used the white opercula for ornamental purposes. 

 The base of the shell is marked with deep, concen- 

 tric furrows. The shells of this species are quite 

 variable, some specimens lacking the sculptured fillet 

 shown in the engraving below each suture, while 

 the form of other specimens is much depressed. The 

 picture represents an unusually large specimen. 



Concerning the name of this species and that of 

 the last, it is proper to remark that the old names, 

 which are inclosed within parentheses, can be used 

 with great propriety still. The proper name of 

 the genus is now considered to be Astr^za^ which was 

 given by Bolten in 1798; while the name Fachy- 

 poma^ given by Gray in 1850, is now reckoned as 

 the name of a subgenus. Sometimes the names of 

 both genus and subgenus appear, and Dr. Dall 

 writes the name of this species ''Astrcza {Facliypo- 



