The Tiger Cowry The WJielJs. 531 



THE TIGER COWKY. (Cyprcea Tigris.) 



THE Cowries or Porcelain shells are amongst the most 

 beautiful of the univalves. The shells are generally of 

 an elegant oval form, with no visible spire ; the mouth 

 is a long slit on the middle of the lower surface, with 

 two nearly equal lips toothed along their margins ; the 

 surface is most beautifully polished, and generally 

 adorned with rich colours, arranged in varied and 

 elegant patterns. The Tiger Cowry, which is one of 

 the commonest, is rather broad, and very convex ; it is 

 of a white colour, covered with numerous dark brown 

 spots. It is usually four or five inches in length, and 

 inhabits the seas of India. The Money Cowry (Cyprcea 

 moneta) is a little Indian species, which is used in place 

 of money in some countries, especially the interior of 

 Africa. It is imported into England for exportation to 

 Africa in large quantities ; as much as 300 tons having 

 been landed at Liverpool in one year. 



THE WHELK, (Buccinum undatum,) 



Is a common British shell-fish of considerable size, 

 which is obtained in large quantities by dredging, and 

 used as food. In London it is sold commonly at stalls 

 in the streets, we believe in a pickled state. The 

 mouth of this animal is furnished with a powerful 

 rasping proboscis, by means of which it is able to bore 

 through the shells of other mollusca. 



