IOO ACM^EA. 



adorned with a tuft of jointed coralline. The common 

 length of the shell is one inch. 



Acmcea spectrum, Nutt., spek'-trum, is a very dis- 

 tinct species. It lives high up on the rocks along the 

 seashore, and from its gray color 

 it looks like a scale of granite. Its 

 shell is very variable, but is gen- 

 Fig. 86. erally low conical, with the apex 

 near one end, as shown in Fig. 86, and it is marked 

 by large^ rough rays, which render the edge very 

 irregular, as is well shown in Fig. 87. 



The interior is of a chalky white, 

 dotted with various colored spots, 

 which sometimes bring out "the 

 owl" very distinctly. The usual 

 length is less than an inch. 



The shell of the little Acnicea 

 Fig- 87. rosacea, Cpr. , ro-sa'-se-a, is very 



small and delicate. Its white cone is gaily marked 

 with lines and dots of yellow and pink. Its length 

 is only one-fourth of an inch, or less, and it is rare at 

 that. Still you may be on the lookout, and in some 

 good hour you may wish to turn to this page and 

 refresh your memory. 



Most of the Iyimpets live near the shore, between 

 high and low water marks. They are easily collected 

 by suddenly lifting them from the rock, by means of 

 a broad -bladed knife; but if they have been pre- 

 viously startled, they will cling so tenaciously that 

 their shells may be broken before they yield. 



In some countries they are eaten, and vast numbers 

 are also gathered for the fishermen as bait. Notice 

 carefully the broad foot, the mantle and gills, and the 

 short head with its tentacles. After the animal has 



