68 TURBINELLA. 



to the systeinatist. The dentition of Imbricaria, Schum. , a group 

 of Mitridae, differs radically from the type of that family and 

 approaches closely to Turbinella that is, if Troschel has cor- 

 rectly identified the mollusk examined by him ; but the species 

 are so essentially Mitrse in other characters that to separate them 

 from that family would be very inexpedient. 



T. PYRUM, Linn. PI. 19, figs. 1-3, 5-T. 



Whitish or 3^ellowish white, under a thick, light olive epidermis j 

 sometimes irregularly sprinkled with chestnut-colored spots; 

 interior of aperture and columella yellowish to orange-brown. 



Length, 4-7 inches. 



Ceylon. 



T. rapa, Gmel. (fig. 5), = gravis, Dillw., = clavata, Wagn., = 

 napus, Lam. (fig. 3), is distinguished by most authors on account 

 of its more swollen growth and absence of spots, but the 

 distinction does not hold good, the shell becoming more swollen 

 and less spotted with increase in size; like our Virginia Deer 

 the spotted coat is a juvenile condition of which, however, 

 traces sometimes remain, or rather recur, in the adult shell. I 

 figure a very curious planorboid monstrosity (figs. 6, 7), existing 

 in the Museum of the University of Ghent. 



The shankh or chank is the sacred shell of the Hindus, and 

 the national emblem of the Kingdom of Travancore. The god 

 Vishnu is represented as carrying a chank shell in one hand and 

 a chakra in the other. 



The Hindus believe that unless they worshiped this shell at 

 the commencement of every worship or prayer, their offerings 

 would not be accepted. The first incarnation of Vishnu, called 

 Machhavatar (which literally means transformation into a fish), 

 was undertaken for destroying Sharikhasura (the giant chank 

 shell), in order to regain the Vedas, he having stolen them and 

 taken refuge under the ocean. 



The fishery for these shells is principally carried on in the 

 Gulf of Manaar, in the vicinity of Ceylon, and on the coast of 

 Coromandel, at Travancore, Tuticorin, and other places, the 

 shells being brought up by divers in about two or three fathoms of 

 water. Those taken with the animal in, and called green chanks. 



