64 Life Beneath the Waves. 



few hours ; but as all these shells are more 

 or less chipped, and otherwise damaged, they 

 are of no value in the eyes of a collector. 



Those procured by dredging are almost 

 as gaily tinted as the Sea-butterflies ; the 

 groundwork of some specimens being 

 yellow, with marks of bright crimson; 

 others, fawn colour, marked with delicate 

 pink. If muriatic acid be applied to these 

 shells the outer surface will be destroyed, 

 and a coating of delicate pearly whiteness, 

 shot with crimson, green, and gold will be 

 disclosed ; in this state they are frequently 

 made into breast-pins and other ornaments. 



Chitons, or Mail shells, belong to the class 

 of Sea-slugs; their bodies are well protected 

 by a shell arranged in plates, some- 

 thing like ancient armour, from which 

 circumstance they are called Mail-shells; 

 the plates lap over each other, and are 



