60 TRIVIA AND ERATO. 



Full-grown specimens of our Cowry are two inches 

 in length. They live chiefly on the coast of southern 

 California, and while they are quite rare as a rule, 

 they have been found in considerable numbers, living 

 with the large mussel, Modiola modiolus, which is of 

 a similar color, and may thus serve as a protection. 



The little Trivia Californica, Gray, Triv'-i-a Cal-i- 

 for'-ni-ca, two views of which are shown in Fig. 44, 

 is sometimes known as the Coffee-bean shell, and its 

 size and appearance warrant this name. 

 On one side it is flat, while the other side 

 is very plump and full. The surface is 

 Fig. 4^ marked by about a dozen sharp ribs, and 

 the long, narrow aperture is set* with many small 

 teeth. The general color of the shell is a reddish 

 chocolate, though the interior is white. 



These shells are quite rare, but may occasionally 

 be picked up on the beach. The>»are so highly 

 prized that they are sometimes worn as jewels. The 

 length of a shell is from one-fourth to one-half of an 

 inch. 



Trivia Solandri, Gray, is found on the shores 

 of Lower California, and reaches as far north as the 

 vicinity of Santa Barbara. It resembles the last 

 species, but is twice as large, and is marked by a 

 deep longitudinal channel on the back of the shell. 

 Somewhat resembling the Cowries, but 

 more pear-shaped, are the Eratos, of which 

 we have two species. The larger one is 

 named Erato vitellina, Hds., E-ra'-to vit- 

 el-li'-na, and its shell is shown in Fig. 45. 

 Fig. 45- it is about half an inch in length, quite 

 smooth, and has a large aperture and a thickened 

 outer lip. The short spire is almost concealed by 



