tINIVALVES CYPRiEA. 93 



CYPR^A Cowry. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXI. 



DiT. I. —Fig. 2. C. exanthema. Div. III.— Fig. 4. C. ziczac. 



Fig. 3. Do. in a young state. Dir. IV. — Fig. 5. C. cribraria. 

 Div. II.— Fig. 1. C. pautherina. Div. Vl.—Fam. 1. Fig. 6. C. nucleus. 



Shell univalve, involute, subovate, smooth, obtuse at each end ; aper- 

 ture effuse at each end, linear, extending the whole length of the 

 shell, and toothed on each side. 



THIS genus possesses one grand mark of distinction, 

 the shells having, when arrived at maturity, the two 

 lips always crenated with strong articulated teeth. The 

 species differ little in formation, but their colorings 

 and markings are very dissimilar. 



There are six divisions in the Cypreea: the first in- 

 cludes those in which the spire is not quite concealed, 

 as in the C. exanthema, C. arabica, &c. Those, on the 

 contrary, which have no manifest spire, as the C caput- 

 serpentis, C. mauritiana, &c. form the second division. 

 The third is composed of the umbilicated or perforated 

 varieties ; such as the C. ziczac, C. asellus, &c. Those 

 species which are marginated, as the C. moneta, C. an- 

 nulus,&c. form the fourth class. The shells of the fifth 

 division have their surfaces covered with ribs, wrinkles, 

 or tuberculations ; and the sixth consists of those which 

 are beaked at the extremities. 



The Cowries are in general smooth, glossy shells, of 

 great brilliancy of color, and elegantly marked with dots, 

 ziczac lines, undulations, stripes, &c. The C. aurantium, 



