76 UNIVALVES. CYPR.EA. 



TheCypraeae, though very similar in form, possess suffi- 

 cient distinctions to constitute four divisions: the first in- 

 cludes those that have a manifest spire, such as the C. 

 Arabica, C. amethystea (the young of C. Arabica), C. 

 exanthema, C. plumbea (the young of C. exanthema), 

 and C. oculata. Those, on the contrary, which are with- 

 out a manifest spire, form the second division ; as the C. 

 caput-serpentis (snake's head), and C.niauritiana. The 

 third division is composed of the umbilicated or perforat- 

 ed varieties; such as the C. ziczac, C. asellus, &c. And 

 those species which are marginated, form the fourth class : 

 viz. the C. moneta, and C. annulus, &c. The C. moneta 

 is fished up by the negro women, three days before or 

 after full moon, and transported into Bengal, Siam, Ame- 

 rica, and the adjacent islands; where it is used by the 

 native blacks, as a substitute for money. 



Most of the Cowries are smooth glossy shells, of ex- 

 quisite brilliancy of color, and elegantly marked with 

 dots, zigzag lines, undulations, streaks, &c. ; which are 

 beautifully exemplified in the C. mappa, the C. argus, 

 and the C. testudinaria. To these may be added the C. 

 vitellus, the C. carneola, the C. talpa, and others of the 

 like description. Some of the species, however, have but 

 little coloring, and have their surfaces covered with 

 small globular tuberculations or warts, as the C. nucleus, 

 C- pustulata, C. staphylaea, &c. The C. pediculus is 

 marked with proximate parallel elevated ribs or striae. 



One of the largest and most valuable Cowries is the 

 C. aurantium, or orange cowry, which is found, though 

 very rarely, at the Friendly Isles. Of the smaller cowries, 

 the C. rubiginosa and the C. pustulata are considered 

 rare. 

 The greater proportion of the Cypraeat; are found in the 



