GREAT VALUJil OF SOME SHELLS. 311 



beauty of the objects themselves, ahuost justified the view 

 which the possessor took of his cabinet of treasures. But 

 after all, these were mere trinkets, and the study of shells 

 and their inhabitants at length became a science of the 

 utmost importance, not only to naturalists generaly, but to 

 the geologist, to whom it is of the greatest value in indicat- 

 ing the difference of strata and their comparative ages. 



In Southern Europe some very beautiful shells are found, 

 especially in the Italian seas. Tarento is singularly rich in 

 shells. The Indian seas, more than any other part of the 

 world, abound with the greatest variety of shell-fish, which 

 exhibit a remarkable contrast, comparatively speaking, to 

 the few species found under the parallel latitudes of Africa 

 and America. It is also a singular fact that nearly three- 

 fourths of these shells belong to the animals entirely carnivo- 

 rous, who, to support life, must be continually carrying on a 

 destructive warfare against the weaker animals of their own 

 class. 



Many beautiful shells are brought from the coasts of 

 Chili and Panama in tropical America. From the western 

 coast of Africa are obtained many attractive shells, such as 

 the blood-spotted Harp, the sharp-ribbed Cockle, etc. The 

 small Cowry, well-known as a substitute for coin among the 

 barbarous nations of Western Africa, is the same species as 

 that so abundant in the Indian seas. 



Passing to Australia, there are found on the coasts many 

 of the most beautiful and rare rolled shells known: the 

 Snow-spotted kind being most valued. They have two dark 

 bands on a flesh-colored ground, the surface being entirely 

 covered with white dots. 



Man}^ deep-sea shells are so firm in their structures, that 

 they are brought to the beaches, especially of the tropical 

 seas, in an entire state, and are eagerly sought after by col- 

 lectors. Independent of their shape, color and lustre, many 



