26 



thinking to persuade the student to believe a single white shell 

 could be found in the series. There is not a really white egg 

 in my study series of sets of this species, but many show only 

 the barest tinge of cream. In several sets, especially those 

 where the predominating dotting colors are of vinaceous and 

 vinaceous-cinnamon, a strong creamy-buff tint is readily rec- 

 < agnized in the ground. 



Thirteen colors and tints occur throughout the series as 

 shell decorations, and distributed with a varying degree of 

 abundance, from sparingly dotted, with one or more colors or 

 tints in some, to boldly blotched in other specimens. 



These colors may be placed in classes of markings as fol- 

 lows : — 



ist. Overlays, or erasable markings, which are always placed 

 on the outside of the shell, without a permanent seat in 

 its texture, and can to a very great extent, be washed, 

 rubbed or scraped off. Burnt umber, liver brown, and 

 chestnut are these colors, and in one case a few black 

 lines were noticed. These markings consist of pin- 

 points, dots, a few zigzag scrawls and lines. Liver brown 

 is the prevailing color of overlays. 



2nd. Underlays, or permanent markings, which are always of 

 the lighter shades, consisting of burnt sienna, vinaceous- 

 cinnamon, vinaceous, pinkish vinaceous, vinaceous-buff, 

 lavender, heliotrope purple, lilac and lavender-gray. 

 These colors are placed both on the shell and 

 rooted in it, or within the texture of the same, and 

 cannot be washed or scraped off without taking away a 

 part of the shell material. Burnt sienna is distributed 

 only in fine dots and pinpoints, and is lacking on some 

 specimens. The other tints and shades occur in either 

 fine dottings or large blotches. Vinaceous, vinaceous- 

 cinnamon and pinkish vinaceous are the predominating 

 colors throughout the series. 



