SHELLS 



345 



that escapes from their depths and seems to repeat 

 the murmur of the sea. 



"This one with the red and lace-like opening comes 

 from India. It is called a helmet. Some are so 

 lar.uv that two of them would be as 

 much as Emile could carry. In 

 some islands they are so abun- 

 dant that they are used instead of 

 stones and are burnt in kilns to 

 make lime." 



"I would not burn them for 

 lime," said Jules, "if I found such 

 beautiful shells. See how red the 

 opening is, how beautifully the edges are pleated." 

 "And then what a loud murmur it makes," added 

 Emile. "Is it true, Uncle, that it is the noise of the 

 sea echoed by the shell?" 



"I do not deny that it resembles a little the mur- 

 mur of waves heard at a distance ; 

 but you must not think that the 

 shell keeps in its folds an echo of 

 the noise of the waves. It is simply 

 the effect of the air going and com- 

 ing through the tortuous cavity. 

 "This other belongs to France. 

 It is common on the shores of tin 

 Mediterranean and belongs to the 

 genus cassis." 



"It goes hoo-hoo, like the hel- 

 met," Emile remarked. 

 Spiny Moiiu-k "All those that are rather large 



and have a spiral cavity do the same. 



