258 On the Economical Uses of some species of Testacea. 
work in shells of all sorts. Mr. Hughes, in his History of Barba- 
does, has two folio pages, vindicating the ladies against the imputation 
of extravagance and waste of time in their passion for this shell work, 
but his argument goes rather to prove that this pursuit is more im- 
proving than many others which the fair sex of his time followed, 
than that it is altogether such as ought to engross their minds to the 
extent it did. Though this taste is disappearing, shells are still in this 
country made into fancy baskets, vases, ornaments for head dresses, 
&c., the manufacture of which is chiefly carried on as a real art, and 
for profit, and as such, is of course as valuable, as far as it goes, as 
any other branch of ornamental industry. Articles thus made are 
admitted for competition at the fairs of the American Institute in 
New York.* Though all species are occasionally used, the princi- 
pal seem to be the rice shell, (Voluta oryza,) the rose shell, (Cy- 
prea sulcata? immature,) the green shell, (Verita viridis,) some 
species of Tellina, &c. &c. from the West Indies. At Taranto, 
shell work is a regular business, but the articles are chiefly pictures, 
resembling mosaic work, picture frames, &c. The shells are stuck 
one by one, according to their shades, upon paste board, on which 
lines have previously been drawn. The articles are very expensive, 
and being of course of little use, they are purchased rather as curi- 
osities than otherwise. There are also some manufactures of a like 
nature in France.t a 
XXIX. Some of the Indian tribes west of the Rocky Mountains 
make use of various colored shells, ground to an oval, or nearly 
round shape, as a circulating medium. e same use is made by 
the Indians of the eastern coast of wampum, or strings of beads cut 
from the Venus mercenaria, (Linn.) and other shells, as well for a 
register of events, or history of their nation. The Indians likewise 
use the wampum as instruments of treaty, and as speech belts, or let- 
ters to convene a meeting of the Sachems, when such is required for 
consultation. 
New Zealanders use shells and beads of mother-of-pearl as 
necklaces, bracelets, and amulets, and also stud their baskets and 
_* At the October Fair, 1836, a diploma was granted by this ae s — a beaw- 
tifal shell miniature church.” Journal of the Am. Institute, Vol. 1. 
tm eppel Craven’ s Tour has the Southern Provinees af ee 7 
