MURICID^E. WHELK. 197 



as the Spaniards do at the present day ; and that the 

 first Grecian signals were lighted torches thrown from 

 both armies, by men who were priests of Mars, and 

 that these signals being laid aside, shells of fishes suc- 

 ceeded, which were sounded in the manner of trumpets, 

 which in those days were not invented. Hence Theog- 

 nis's riddle may easily be interpreted ; 



" A sea-inhabitant with living mouth 

 Bpoke to me to go homo, though dead it was." 



Triton's shell-trumpet is famous in poetical story, 

 whence Ovid, speaking of Neptune, says : 



" Already Triton at his call appears 

 Above the waves, a Tyriaw, robe he wears; 

 And in his hand a crooked trumpet bears. 

 The Sov'reign bids him peaceful sounds inspire, 

 And give the waves the signal to retire ; 

 His writhen shell he takes, whose narrow vent, 

 Grows by degrees into a large extent." Dryden. 



And most of the poets mention this custom in. their 

 description of primitive wars. 



Some of the North American Indian tribes hold sea- 

 shells in great reverence, and it is said that the Omaha* 

 possessed a sacred shell which they transmitted from 

 generation to generation. A skin lodge was built for 

 it, and a man appointed as guardian, who resided in the 

 lodge. It was placed on a stand and never allowed to 

 touch the earth, and was concealed from sight by a 

 number of mate made of strips of skins plaited. The 

 whole formed a large package, and tobacco, roots of 

 trees, and other objects were suspended from it. No 

 one dared to open all these coverings to see the sacred 

 shell, for if they attempted to look upon it, they were 

 struck with instant and total loss of sight. The Indians 

 took the shell with them to all the national hunts, and, 



