126 UNIVALVES STROMBUS. 



shells have no appearance of claws ; which first present 

 themselves in the form of short and open canalicnlated 

 fissures; when the shells are farther advanced in growth, 

 the claws assume their proper shape, but are thin, hollow, 

 and imperfectly closed; but become filled up and solid, 

 when the shells have arrived at their full growth. Of 

 the winged class the S.gallus, S. auris-dianse, S. latis- 

 simus and S. gigas have the lip most expanded. The S. 

 luhuanus, and a few others, have some of their whorls 

 very gibbous, and are on that account generally known 

 by the name of Pouters. The colors of the interior are 

 usually extremely vivid and beautiful. The fourth 

 and fifth divisions consist of turreted shells, the former 

 being- distinguished by a longitudinal fissure, extend- 

 ing from the aperture to the summit; and the latter by 

 its lengthened spire, which gives the shells a resemblance 

 to some species of the Murex, and is exemplified in 

 the S. fusus. The S. oniscus, the only shell of the 

 sixth division, is destitute of a winged termination. 



The S. latissimus and S. fusus, are two of the most 

 rare species of the genus. 



The African, Indian, American, and European oceans 

 produce many species of this genus, and some few are 

 found in the Mediterranean, Red, and Arctic seas. 



This genus derives its name from the resemblance 

 which some" of its species bear to a whipping-top 



((7T|OOju/3oc). 



Division I. — Shell with linear segments, or claws, at the margin of 

 the outer lip. 



Scientific Name. Locality. Common Name. 



Chiragra China, Mauritius Devil's Claw-shell 



Scorpius Amboyna, China Scorpion ..do-- 



