xvi INTRODUCTION. 



best be estimated by those who are in the habits of vend- 

 ing, purchasing, and wearing them. 



There are many of the larger species of Buccina and 

 Strombi, which, after having had the apex, or extreme 

 tip broken off, become excellent substitutes for a trum- 

 pet or horn, and are frequently u^ed abroad for that pur- 

 pose. 



The famous Tyrian dye, >a liich did formerly, and perhaps 

 does at present, give the luxuriant purple color to the robes 

 of royalty, is an extract from the shell-fish of the genus 

 Murex, and commonly known under the appellation of 

 the Purpura, or Purple-fish. 



Enemies to Shells and Shell-fish, 

 It appears that shell-fish, besides providing food for man, 

 are destined to supply other creatures with nourishment 

 also. It is said that monkies are particularly fond of some 

 species of Bivalves, and the mode they take to catch them 

 is as follows : At low-water the monkey repairs to the 

 shore, and searches for oysters and muscles that have been 

 left by the tide; the fish, for want of water, generally 

 have their shells partly open; the subtle animal, foresee- 

 ing the danger of trusting his paws between the shells, 

 artfully drops a stone or two into them, w hich entirely 

 prevents their being closed by the fish; the consequence 

 is, he is enabled to extract his prey without danger or 

 difficulty, and devours it at his leisure. 



Tortoises and turtles consume great numbers of shell- 

 fish, and the strength of their jaws (as reported) is such, 

 as to macerate the strongest and roughest shells with the 

 greatest facility. 



Birds also (sea-fowl especially) are great devourers of 

 shell-fish; and when they find the shells too hard to ad- 



