50 EULIMA. 



used to be so rare and so highly prized that most 

 extravagant prices were paid for a specimen. So 

 greatly were they desired, and so seldom were they 

 found, that the Chinese, it is said, made very perfect 

 imitations of these precious shells from a preparation 

 of rice. Beware of counterfeits ! 



Scalar in Indianorum, Cpr., In-di-an-o'-rum, is a 

 northern species, very similar to Hindsii, which is 

 found more at the south. Its shell is rather less 

 tapering, and it is sometimes tinted. 



Eulima mtcans, Cpr., Eu-li'-ma mi'-kans, Fig. 32, 



comes next on our list. This species has a beautifully 



polished, slender, spiral shell, with a very 



sharp apex and an elongated aperture. Its 



surface is bluish white and glistening, as its 



name indicates. Its length is commonly less 



than half an inch. 



Fig. 32. Etilima rutila, Cpr. , ru'-ti-la, is like the 



last species, but very small and slender. Its color is 



rosy, and the base of the shell is lengthened. 



Every one of this group of shells possesses a pecu- 

 liar beauty; and whether we examine the white Opalia, 

 the sculptured Stair-case shell, or the polished Euli- 

 ma, we shall be struck with the evident regularity of 

 its parts, and the beautiful plan upon which it is con- 

 structed. 



