76 UNIVALVES CYPR.EA. 



Spcctnini {Spectre C.) Nubicula. 



Bullatiis. Spurius. 



Tulipa {Tulip C.) Vexillum. (Flag C) 



Geographicus. Veiitricosiis. 



CYPR^A.— Cowry op. Gowrie. 



Animal — a Slug: Shell univalve, involute, suhovate, 

 smooth, obtuse at each end; aperture effuse at each end, 

 linear, extending the whole length of the shell, and 

 toothed on each side. 



This beautiful genus contains no less than a hundred 

 and twenty species, and these may again be subdivided 

 into many hundred varieties. The Cypraeic are, however, 

 much of the same formation, though their colorings, mark- 

 ings, and workings, are amazingly dissimilar; the greater 

 part of them are smooth glossy shells, of exquisite bril- 

 liancy of color, and elegantly marked wilh dots, zigzag 

 lines, undulations, streaks, &c. Such are the Cypriea 

 mappa (map cowry), the Cypraea Argus (thousand 

 eyes), and the Cypraea testudinaria (tortoise-shell cow- 

 rie). To these may be added the Cypraea vitellus (fal- 

 low-deer cowrie), the cariicola (carnelian), the talpa 

 (mole), and others of the like description. 



There are other smaller sorts of Cyprceae, however, 

 which are completely opposed to the last mentioned, ex- 

 cept in the general form, and in having their mouth run 

 the whole length of the shell: those which tx)me under 



