UNIVALVES. — TURBO. 87 



TURBO.— Wreath, Gig or Top-Shell. 



Animal— a Limax: Shell univalve, spiral, solid; aperture 

 contractedf orbicular, entire. 



There are no less than one hundred and fifty-one species 

 of this beautiful genus; they are, for the most part, solid 

 and ponderous shells, and very many are of a pearly na- 

 ture when uncoated. The first division has the pillar 

 margin of the aperture dilated, and the pillar imperforate. 

 Amongst the leading species may be reckoned the Turbo 

 Obtusatus, Turbo Neritoides, and Turbo Littoreus, or 

 common Periwinckle, a shell well known to most per- 

 sons. Its fish, when boiled, is not unfrequently eaten; it 

 is an inhabitant of most European shores; and it is said of 

 them by sailors, that, if seen crawling high up the rocks, 

 it is an indication of the approach of stormy weather; 

 if, on the contrary, they descend, a calm is sure to fol- 

 low. 



The next class or division is that whose shells are solid 

 and imperforate; among the principal species are the 

 Turbo Petholatus or Ribband Turbo, Turbo Chrysosto- 

 mus or Gold Mouth, Turbo Pagodus or Chinese Pagoda, 

 Turbo Calcar or the Spur, and Turbo Smaragdus or the 

 Emerald Turbo ; to which may be added, the Turbo 

 Cochlus, Cornutus, Nigerrimus, Marmoratus, and Olea- 

 rius, the two latter of which sometimes attain a gigantic 

 size. 



The next palpable variation consists in the pillar of 

 some species being perforated or umbilicated. The Tur- 

 bo Pica or Magpye Turbo (as being the most known and 

 easiest procured) will be the best to refer to as an exam- 



