UNIVALVES TROCHUS. 83 



smooth, yet a far greater number may be found that are 

 covered with knobs, spines, tuberculations, or undulations. 

 The Trochus Solaris or Golden Sun, and theTrochusIni- 

 perialis or Imperial Sun, from the South seas, may per- 

 haps be sufficient examples. The former has its margin 

 beset with long spines, placed at regular distances, and 

 which, when the shell is perfect, resemble very nearly 

 the manner in which the rays of the sun are often repre- 

 sented in carved work, &c. &c. Added to which, there is 

 a most beautiful gold color, which occasionally shines 

 forth through the ochreous surface of the shell, and 

 which of course adds materially to the similitude, in as 

 much as it approaches nearer to the gilded radiance of 

 the splendid orb it is compared withi The Trochus Ini- 

 perialis, however, has no pretension to a similar appear- 

 ance, for it is mostly of a dull olive colour, though there 

 is a rare variety of it, which has a pinkish cast, and is 

 known by the name of the Pink Sun. They are both rare 

 shells, and from the South seas. 



Among those Trochi which are imperforate, or in other 

 words, those that have their umbilicus closed, may be in- 

 cluded the Trochus Vestiarius, Trochus Labio, and Trochus 

 Tuber, the latter of which very much resembles a Turbo. 



The Trochus Iris, (commonly called the Ear-drop 

 Snail), is celebrated, when uncoated, for the splendid me- 

 taUic lustre which illumines its surface ; and when held 

 in different positions and lights, exhibits all the varied 

 tints of the rainbow, blended with the richest gold color 

 imaginable. 



The Trochus Cookii, from Cooke's Bay, has its aper- 

 ture closed with a horny lid or operculum, an appendage 

 not unfrequent in many of the Univalve tribes; its use is 

 to secure the inhabitant when retired within its shell : it 



