UNIVALVES. hh 
denominated, the Grass-girdled Indian Unicorn, 
appertains to this division. The shell is white, 
shining like alabaster, and twice encircled with a 
very dark violet band, shaped like a tongue or wheat 
leaf, terminating in a white point. 
Buccini, of extraordinary size and beauty, abound 
on the shores of the Red Sea. According to Strabo, 
the natives of the country wore large collars com- 
posed of them, both for ornaments and as amulets. 
The same kind of shell is also mentioned in the 
ancient books of the Hindoos, who eall it Sancha. 
Strombus, the Greek name for a species, signifies 
to turn round, and well expresses its general con- 
tour. The Murex owes its designation to 4 number 
of its shells, which are rough and rock-like. Several 
of its species inhabit the English coasts. The Shell- 
Collector has occasionally found the beautiful MM. 
Subulatus, or awl-shaped Murex, among sea-sand at 
Scalasdale, in the Sound of Mull. It is a rare shell, 
long, slender, and white, with about fifteen slightly 
elevated whirls, defined by a purplish-brown. spiral 
line, and elegantly decorated with two rows of beads, 
divided by a depressed line, and marked with minute 
elevated longitudinal striz. 
Ancient Syrian coins sometimes bear the Murex 
and Buccinum, in commemoration of the Tyrian 
purple. 
