THE SNAIL'S GAY RELATIONS. 61 



was first brought to notice by a dog, who broke a shell 

 with his teeth, leaving the stain on his lips. With 

 this purple the Babylonians dyed the robes they 

 dressed their idols with ; and with it Moses tinted the 

 furniture of the tabernacle. Wool dyed with Tyrian 

 purple sold, during the reign of the Emperor Au- 

 gustus, for one hundred and eighty dollars a pound. 



From the cassis shell some of the cheaper cameos 

 employed in jewelry are cut. The delicate fineness and 

 blush of the cameo stone make it valuable, but the cost 

 is mainly in the cutting. 



On account of their scarcity, and of the beautiful 

 coverings worn by the snail's kin, they have sometimes 

 commanded large prices. As late as 1865, rare cowries 

 sold for two hundred dollars each. Cones, valued for 

 fine polish and rich markings, brought from sixty to 

 two hundred dollars. In 1876, the gay voluta, spotted 

 with orange and white, sold for fifty dollars; before 

 that date it had cost two hundred dollars. 



Of what possible use to these tender inhabitants are 

 the rich and gay colorings and luster of the whorls, or 

 the delicate tints of the lips? These gorgeous clothes 

 are, in their natural state, inclosed in a rough outside 

 crust, which is no more handsome than the shuck of a 

 cocoa-nut. Perhaps these beauties of shell grow to 

 please human eyes. Perhaps they are designed to 

 teach that what is good and beautiful in character lies 

 beneath the surface. As Wordsworth again says : 



True beauty dwells in deep retreats, 



Whose veil is unremoved 

 Till heart with heart in concord beats, 



And the lover is beloved. 



