64 UNIVALVES VOLUTA . 



by the name of Mitres; some of them are very ele- 

 gantly formed and finely tinted in their coloring. 



The species most generally known among these are the 

 Voluta Patriarchal is, the Voluta Cardinalis, Papalis (Pope's 

 Mitre), and Episcopalis or Bishop's Mitre, which is fre- 

 quent in India; but the inhabitant or fish is said to be of 

 a poisonous nature, if eaten, and to wound with a kind 

 of pointed trunk those who touch it. The natives of the 

 island of Tanna fix the shells in handles, and use them as 

 hatchets. Among the rest of the elongated form may be 

 enumerated the Voluta Sanguisuga, Caffra, Vulpecula, 

 Plicaria, and others, some of which are considered rare. 



The Voluta Musica, or Music shell, though not rare is 

 very interesting, from the circumstance of having its 

 markings arranged in parallel lines, like the five lines or 

 a stave in music, upon which are placed small dots or 

 punctures, in exact resemblance of the notes and other 

 characters used in music. The Wild Music or Bat Volute 

 (Voluta Vespertilio) is a curious variety of the above ; as 

 is also the Voluta Hebrasa, which is esteemed a rarity. 



Among the more beautiful species of the Volutae, the 

 Voluta Vexillum or Orange Flag Volute, is most conspicu- 

 ous, and, in point of rarity, it yields to few^. The Voluta 

 Lapponica, Scapha, and Magellanica, also are in great 

 esteem. 



The Volutae, with few exceptions, are shells of a smooth 

 and polished surface; among the exceptions may be 

 reckoned the Voluta Turbinellus, Ceramica, Capitellum, 

 and many of the Mitres. The species of Volutae called 

 Melons, are mostly of large size; and some of them, as 

 the Voluta iEthiopica or Ethiopian Crown, and its vari- 

 eties, have their whorls or spires surrounded with elevat- 

 ed hollow spines, forming a perfect coronation or thorny 



