MITRES. OLIVES. 37 



Mitres; these are usually considered as a genus, or branch 

 of the Yolute family; the scientific name is mitra, the form 

 is generally long, slender, and pointed — something like the 

 bishop's mitre, hence the common name of the genus. In the 

 Episcopal Mitre, (J/. episco2)aUs,) Plate YI, Fig. 1, we see this 

 form in its greatest perfection; this is a handsome shell found 

 in the Indian seas, and on the coasts of the South Sea Islands. 

 The mollusk is remarkable for a long proboscis, double the 

 length of the shell, the extremity of which swells into a club 

 form, and has an oval orifice or opening: the specific name 

 episcor)alis, comes from the Latin, and means of, or like a 

 bishop. The Tanned Mitre, {M. adusta,) from the Latin 

 adustus — burned or parched, is, what is called fusiform and 

 turretted, that is, shaped like a spindle, and having a 

 spire or turret-like termination. The streaks of colour are 

 transverse, that is, running the length of the shell, or in 

 other words, they are longitudinal; this, too, comes from the 

 South Sea Islands. Fig. 2 is the Wrinkled Mitre, {M. corru- 

 gata,) from the Latin corrugo — to wrinkle; it is very different 

 both in shape and markings, from the last species; the whorls, 

 it will be seen, are angulated or pointed above, and the lower 

 part of the shell is much larger than the spiral or upper 

 portion. It is a true mitre nevertheless, although not just such 

 a one as a bishop would like to wear. It inhabits the Indian 

 Ocean, the coast of IS^ew Guinea, etc. 



Olives; these, for richness of colour and brilliancy of effect, 

 will bear comparison with any genus of shells. !N'aturalists 

 speak of them collectively as Olivines; they belong to the 

 Yolute family, and are said to number about eighty species. 

 Most of those which have reached this country, have come 

 from the Mauritius, where they catch them with lines baited 

 with portions of Cuttle-fish. We have here depicted two of 

 them, namely, the Figured Olive, Fig. 3, {Oliva textilina,) 

 from the Latin textilus, which is woven or plaited; and the Euddy 

 Olive, Fig. 4, (0. sangidnolenta,) from sanguis — blood. 



We must now bring our notice of the Univalves to a con- 

 clusion; there are several genera, and many very curious and 

 beautiful species which we have been unable to notice at all, 

 and of those which we have, a short account only could be 

 given; sufficient however, as we trust, to interest our readers 



