84 UNIVALVES. 



Another very distinct natural group of the 

 genus Buccinum consists of shells called Needle 

 Buccina,* a term which indicates their subulate 

 form : and though their pointed elongated shape 

 gives them a very different appearance to that of 

 the Buccina in general ; yet they possess the 

 characteristic mark of the genus in the notch of 

 the aperture slanting towards the left. They are 

 now arranged in a genus called Terebra. 



The name given to this genus is derived from 

 the Latin buccina, a trumpet, and it is very pro- 

 bable that these shells suggested the first idea of 

 that musical instrument, for if the apex be 

 pierced or broken off, a variety of sounds may be 

 produced by blowing into it. Triton, the fabled 

 trumpeter of Neptune, is represented with one of 

 these shells in his hand, when he is supposed to 

 be calling up the river deities to attend their 

 monarch. This kind of trumpet is still used by 

 the Italian herdsmen to direct the movements of 

 their cattle. In a part of Wales also the farmers 

 summon their labourers in a similar manner, and 

 the deep and sonorous notes thus produced, 

 breaking in upon the silence of those mountain- 

 ous districts have a very striking effect. In 

 Palestine the bee-masters enticed their bees with 

 a whistle made by means of some shell, (probably 

 a Buccinum) and led them from meadow Ito meadow 

 to collect their store of sweets. Isaiah seems to 

 refer to this custom when he prophesies the con- 

 * Plate III. fig. 4. 



