98 UNIVALVES. STROMBUS. 



peailiarily, such as the Strombus epidromis or mainsail 

 alatus, the Strombus vittatus, canarium, &c. &c. &c. 

 Though these latter species never grow to any magni- 

 tude, some of the former, as the latissimus and gigas, 

 frequently attain a considerable size. 



Among the oddities of this genus may be included the 

 Strombus luhuanus, gibberul us, &c. which, from having 

 some part of their whorls more gibbous or swollen than 

 others, are generally known by the name of pouter ala- 

 ti, and are with great propriety called so, on account of 

 their resemblance to that species of col umbae, or pigeons, 

 called pouters. There are a great many beautiful va- 

 rieties, some having scarlet, pink, or orange mouths, 

 whereas others have the interior of their shells of a rich 

 blue, purple, or yellow color. 



The Strombus fusus or spindle, of which there are 

 two varieties, nearly resembles a Murex, in having the 

 beak rather straight, but approaches nearer to the genus 

 Strombus, in being smooth, and having the lip toothed. 

 The tirst variety of this shell has a short subulate beak, 

 but the second variety (known by the name of the long- 

 beaked spindle) is easily distinguishable from it, as the 

 shell altogether is much more tapering and delicate, and 

 its beak, when perfect, is nearly as long as all the rest of 

 the shell. It is considered as one of the great rarities in 

 collections, and is from the Straits of Sunda. 



Among the Strombi which are differently formed to 

 those already mentioned, the Strombus Tuberculatus, 

 and the three following species, may prove sufficient ex- 

 amples : viz. Strombus palustris or ladle, from the mea- 

 dows or Savannahs of the Indian Ocean ; Strombus ater 

 or black Strombus, from the fens of Amboyna; and 

 Strombus aculeatus, or black He*Tules' club, from the 

 marshes of Africa. 



