2f) CALIFORNIA SEA SHELLS. 



name. It is very plump and full, with a dozen 

 distinct ribs on each side. Its color is reddish 

 chocolate, with white teeth on the inner wall of 

 the long and narrow aperture. It is a pretty 

 little shell, from one-fourth to one-half inch in 

 length, and is sometimes worn as a jewel. 



Erato vitelline Hds., Fig. 6, PL V, is about . 

 half an inch in length, quite smooth, with a 

 large aperture and thickened outer lip. The 

 spire is short ,and largely concealed. The per- 

 istome is white, and the back is chestnut brown. 

 Dead shells may frequently be found along the 

 shore. 



Fig. 7, PL V, represents the natural size of 

 the pretty little Erato columbella, Mke. This 

 species has a visible spire, long aperture with 

 finely toothed edges, white lips and olive back. 

 Still smaller, but somewhat resembling this 

 species, is the pure white Marginella Jewettii, 

 Cpr., not figured. It isor.e-fifth of an inch long, 

 has a rounded spire and four distinct folds near 

 the base of the columella. ' It resembles the 

 Rice Shell, Olivella oriza, but is shorter and 

 thicker. 



Fig. 1, PL YI, represents a moderate sized 

 specimen of Lunatia Lewissii, Gld., Moon-shell. 

 It sometimes grows to be five or six inches in 

 diameter, and is a powerful enemy to helpless, 

 burrowing bivalves. Plowing along through 

 the wet sand by means of its enormous foot, it 

 no sooner strikes an unfortunate clam than the 

 head is stretched out, and the drill which it car- 

 ries in its trunk started on its errand of destruct- 

 ion. Its color is yellowish white; spire, shcrt; 



