THE SECRETS OF THE SEA 325 



strange and curious worms and mollusks by the 

 hundreds. Among the latter were elegantly fringed 

 Murices with a long spire and many spines (Murex 

 beaui), and a rare species of the same group be- 

 longing to a Pacific race. There were lovely Mi- 

 crogazas, whose depressed, iridescent shells look 

 like flattened pearls ; and then red spotted Volutes of 

 three species, and elegantly variced Scalas (notably 

 Epitonium pernobilis). The genus Scala is repre- 

 sented in collections by the well known royal wentle- 

 trap (S. pretiosa) from Oriental seas, which was 

 formerly greatly prized on account of its beauty 

 and rarity, fine specimens having at one time 

 brought as much as two hundred guineas. But 

 our perfect specimen of Epitonium pernobilis is as 

 fine, and its specific name is aptly applied. It is 

 one of the most beautiful shells in the world, and 

 one of the rarest, as only three or four have ever 

 been taken. Its pure white, rounded whorls, which 

 scarcely come in contact, are well set off with nu- 

 merous wide frilled varices, each of which ends in a 

 point above, thus forming a perfect crown. 



During the year 1869 a series of dredgings was 

 made under the direction of Count Pourtales by 

 the U. S. Fish Commission steamer Bibb in the 



