180 I CYPR^EA. 



Section III. (Luponia, Gray, pars.} Shell pyriform or pyri- 

 formly ovate, usually spotted. 



Group A. Shell smooth, not margined. 



* More or less ventricose or inflated. 

 C. AURANTIUM, Martyn. PI. 11, fig. 48. 



Shell unspotted, back, teeth and interstices bright orange, 

 base, sides and extremities white. Length, 3*6 inches. 



Fiji Is., Solomon Is., Loyalty Is. 



The large and finely colored specimens come from the Loyalty 

 Is., while those from the Fijis are smaller. This species, though 

 an old one, is yet quite rare ; good specimens costing about 

 $10.00 each. The highest order of dignity among the Friendly 

 Islanders, is typified by the permission to wear this shell as an 

 ornament. 



C. PRINCEPS. Gray. PL 11, fig. 47. 



Yellowish, tinged with rose-purple, fainter towards the base, 

 profusely painted in the middle with waved yellowish-brown 

 hieroglyphic markings, clouded on each side with a large rhom- 

 boidal dark-clouded blotch ; extremities adorned with three 

 irregular concentric brown lines, the middle of which is the 

 strongest, on the posterior extremity are several finer light 

 brown concentric stride ; sides ornamented with blue and brown 

 spots, more or less distinct ; base and teeth white. 



Length, 3'9 inches. 



Persian Gulf, New Guinea. 



Though one of the oldest, this species is still of the greatest 

 rarity, and for a long time the British Museum possessed the 

 only specimen known to exist. Lately Dr. J. C. Cox, of 

 Sydney, N. S. W., has secured a fine example, which he states 

 was found on the southern shore of New Guinea. 



C. TIGRIS, Linn. PL 11, figs. 49, 50 ; PL 15, fig. 8, (Dentition). 



Whitish or yellowish, sometimes clouded with chestnut-brown, 

 promiscuously painted with rather large blackish blue clouded 

 spots ; base white ; teeth large, sometimes bifurcate. 



Length, 2'5-4 3 inches. 



Indian and Pacific Oceans. 



Young shell (fig. 50) chestnut to whitish, ornamented with 



