^7 



rally covered with a bright coat of wrinkled enamel^ and the outer lip be- 

 comes thickened in a manner somewhat curious; upon arriving at maturity 

 the hp curls under so as to form a deep broad channel or gutter, which 

 is then filled up to form the tliickened lip. The varices are all constructed 

 in the same manner, each forming for a time the margin of the aperture, 

 and destined, it is conjectured, to protect the hp during a season of rest 

 in the manner already described ; as a question for the curious it would be 

 interesting to know what length of time ordinarily elapses between the for- 

 mation or deposit of a varix, and the renewal of growth. The elegant margin 

 of the T.femorale is celebrated as having furnished the origmal model of 

 the gadroon border so frequently used by the silversmith in the decoration 

 of plate ; and the common Trumpet of the IMediterranean, T. nodiferns, may 

 be noticed as affording an occasional meal for the Neapolitan fisherman, 

 which, in the absence of more delicate food, is said to be much reHshed. 



The Tritons appear to be widely distributed over the globe : of a hundred 

 species recently illustrated in the 'Conchologia Iconica', the chief portion are 

 from the Molucca and Pluhppine Islands ; some few are from the western 

 coast of America, some from Cliina, several from New Holland, Ceylon, 

 and Mozambique ; and there are also one or two from the Mediterranean, 

 the Cape of Good Hope, the West Indies, and the United States. 



Species. 



