STROMBUS CLA W SHELL. 91 



STROMBUS Pes Pelicani* 

 PELICAN'S FOOT. 



Specific Character. Shell turreted, finely 

 striated transversely ; spire tapering to a fine point 

 with ten tuberculated convolutions ; the body 

 whorl has two rows of smaller tubercles beneath 

 the larger ones ; outer lip much expanded, four- 

 clawed, the upper claw extending up the spire, 

 the lower one forming the beak ; the two middle 

 ones are ribbed along the back in a continued line 

 from the rows of turbercles, and underneath is a 

 corresponding groove. The shell is of a pale 

 brownish flesh colour. Length nearly two inches. 



The Strombus Pes Pelicani is subject to great 

 variations in the different stages of its growth. 

 In young shells f the outer lip has not assumed 

 its peculiar form ; it first gradually expands, then 

 the claws appear, and finally it becomes com- 

 pletely digitated. Shells are found in all the in- 

 tervening gradations between the young and the 

 adult specimen : the latter resembles a bird's foot 

 from which the specific name is derived. 



This species is rather common on many of the 

 coasts of Great Britain, it is chiefly met with on 

 sandy shores. 



* Plate III, fig. 5. f Plate III. fig. 6. 



