458 NATURAL HISTORY OF HAWAII. 



Of a possible two lumdred liviug- species there are more thau three dozen 

 forms of tliese interesting mollusks reported as occurring in Hawaii, all of 

 which are known as leho by the natives. With possibly one or two exceptions, 

 however, they cannot be said to be abundant or common in the islands. Ref- 

 erence has been made in another connection to the large number of species 

 belonging to this family that have been secured in Honolulu harbor. In the 

 small collection of common beach forms, in the lot before me from Oahu, no 

 fewer than ten recognizable species occur. Of that number three or four are 

 sufiEieiently common to be liable to occur in almost every collection. 



By far the most abundant species is the snake-head cowry.^^ It is seldom 

 more than an inch and a quarter in length, and is often found along rocky 

 coasts or in coral heads in shallow water. It is reddish or blackish-brown 

 with unequal snow-like spots on the back. The extremities are tipped with 

 white, the base gray ; the teeth are strong and white. These and other species 

 of cowries, especially the money cowry.i" ^ small yellowish species, and another 

 small form ornamented with white and brown spots, a saffron base and pale 

 violet extremities, known as Cijprcea helvola. were used by the Hawaiians to 

 some extent in making their leis. 



The hump-backed cowry '^ when full-grown is more than three and a half 

 inches in length. Its brown color is varied by light brown or white spots of 

 irregular size, while the sides and base are dark brown or almost black. The 

 teeth are prominent and the edge of the shell is much thickened and angular. 

 This fine shell is said to be the strongest and heaviest of the genus. It is one 

 of the large sea shells in which the native children, like the children of many 

 other lands, could hear the soiind of the sea. It is a choice food of the Ha- 

 waiians and is often to be seen offered for sale in the market. Its shell was 

 miieh used in making their ingenious squid-hooks. As a part of the hook the 

 shell served as bait, and was attached to a stone sinker of similar size and 

 shape, so that the flattened surfaces were together. Between the shell and the 

 sinker there was fastened a stick, to the loAver end of which was attached a 

 hook of bone or, in more recent years, of iron. About the hook was iisually 

 fastened a bunch of leaves, which kept the point hidden from the e.ve of the 

 cautious animal. The squid has a great fondness for this particular species of 

 cowry. They seize the hook by wrapping their arms about the shell, when 

 thej^ are easily captured. "Humpbacks" (leho) were always in great demand 

 among the fishermen for that reason. The flesh-colored cowr.v,'* a large spe- 

 cies ornamented Avith four or five deep flesh-colored bands and with a red 

 animal, was also sometimes used as s(ini(l bait. The squid if captured under 

 certain conditions b.v this species of shell, was supposed to be a very valuable 

 remedv in the healing of the sick. 



' Cyprwa cnrneola. 



