38 COWRIES. 



in the subject, and in<luce them to continue the study of it 

 into larger works. Before leaving this division of shells, we 

 would cull their attention to one of its greatest ornaments, 

 that is the Yentricose Harp Shell, [ILirpa ventricosa,) from the 

 Latin ventricidus — the stomach, applied to this shell on account 

 of its swelled or inflated shape. Nothing, however, can be 

 more elegant than the whole form, nor more beautiful than 

 the markings of this lovely species, (see Plate YI, Fig. 5,) 

 which belongs properly to the AYlulk family. 



CO^VUIKS. 



Of Cowries we have already spoken in our chapter on the 

 Uses of Shells, they are among the commonest of our testaceous 

 ornaments, and are remarkable, especially the foreign kinds, 

 for richness and diversity of colour, and the high polish which 

 they bear. The native species are small plain shells, com- 

 monly called rigs, from some real or fancied resemblance which 

 they bear to the swine; they are pretty little white ribbed 

 shells, and are tolerably plentiful on various parts of the 

 British coasts. There are three kinds, namely, the Louse Pig, 

 or Xun Cowry, the Flesh-coloured, and European Pig Cowries. 

 The first of these is of a pale reddish colour, with six square 

 black spots on the back; the second is a beautiful rose tint; 

 and the third is ash-coloured or pinkish, with three black dots, 

 and a white streak down the back. The Money Cowry, 

 ( Ci/prcea moneta, ) used as current coin in many parts of India, 

 as well as on the coast of Guinea, is a yellow and white shell, 

 with a single band of the former colour; it is small of size, 

 and is sometimes called the Trussed Chicken, for the same 

 reason as the term Pigs is applied to its British relatives. 

 These Cowries are obtained principally about the Phillippine 

 Islands, the Maldive Islands, and the coast of Congo, where, 

 after high tides, the women collect them in baskets mixed 

 with sand, from which they are afterwards separated and 

 cleaned, when they are ready for the market. 



They are only useful as coin so long as they remain un- 

 broken. The value of a single shell is very small, as the 



