166 WEST AMERICAN SHELLS 
A pure white little shell is often 
found washed up on sandy beaches 
which is highly prized by the children, 
who often call it a Rice-shell. The 
true Rice-shell, which is a little white 
Olivella, pointed at both ends, does not exist on 
our coast, though it is found abundantly in the 
West Indies. Our white shell, shown in Figure 
153, belongs to another genus. Its name is Mar- 
ginélla jeweéttu, Cpr., Jewett’s Marginella, though 
it will do no harm to continue to eall it a Rice-shell. 
The little cross beside the picture indicates the true 
length and breadth of a large specimen. There are 
several plaits, or folds, on the columella. 
Marginélla varia, Sby., the Colored Marginella, 
(Volvarina varia), is a pretty little shell about the 
size and shape of a fat grain of wheat. It has a 
very short, rounded spire, a long aperture, and a 
plaited columella. Its surface is very smooth 
and glossy, and varies in color from white to 
brown, the shades being often laid on in bands and 
stripes. It is a southern species, and is often 
found on rocks between tides. Several other 
minute species of Marginella will be 
mentioned in the List. 
Mitra maura, Swains., the Dark Miter- 
shell, is shown in Figure 154. It is a 
dusky relative of the beautiful and bril- 
lant Miter-shells which are taken in the 
vicinity of Australia. Our species is 
by no means gaudy, either in color or 
ornamentation, but has a plain, smooth 
celto 
