ORNAMENTAL SHELLS. 321 



Were heard — sonorous cadence, wlierebj. 

 To Lis belief, the monitor express'd 

 Mysterious union with his native sea." 



In the cottages of Zetland, this shell, generally about six 

 inches long, is used for a lamp, being suspended horizontally 

 by a cord, its cavity containing the oil, and the wick passing 

 through the canal. 



The shell of the Haliotis (the sea, the ear), is very orna- 

 mental, and valued, on account of its pearly lining, for 

 adorning papier mache articles. These shells, which are 

 very numerous, and some of splendid appearance, come from 

 the tropical seas, and are commonly called, from their shape, 

 " ear-shells," or " sea-ears." One species, however, is found 

 on the Southern European coasts, and on those of the Chan* 

 nel Islands. From the warm regions are obtained the beau- 

 tiful Harp-shells, the delicate and brilliant colors of which 

 render them highly prized; also the Fountain-shells to 

 which has already been alluded as used for cameos, and are 

 much esteemed as garden ornaments for their solid and deli- 

 cately-tinted substance. One of these shells sometimes 

 weighs four or five pounds. 



A shell called the Razor, a common species of which is 

 often picked up on the English coasts — some straight, about 

 an inch long and eight inches broad ; and another curved 

 like a sword — attain a large size in tropical seas, and are of 

 great beauty. They are found in the sands of all seas, 

 except in the cold regions, the solen, the name of the inhabitant 

 of this shell, burrowing in the sands, and ascending from its 

 holes by means of the foot, which can be lengthened or con- 

 tracted at will. 



What are called Top-shells, from their spiral and very 

 generally top-shape, are frequently found on the English 

 coasts, and many of them are very ornamental, but not equal 

 in this respect to the tropical specimens. 



From Australia we obtain a large number of the richly deco- 



